Elisabeth Schmid

Elisabeth Schmid (1912–27 March 1994) was a German archaeologist and osteologist. She is best known for her work concerning the prehistoric ivory statue, the lion-man, and for her book, Atlas of Animal Bones. Schmid was the first woman to serve as dean of the natural sciences faculty of the University of Basel. In 1953 she co-founded the Swiss Archaeological Society with Rudolf Laur-Belart.

Early life and career

Schmid was born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1912 and graduated with a PhD from the University of Freiburg. She was habilitated in Freiburg and Basel. In 1953, she established a laboratory at the University of Basel for prehistoric studies. In 1975 she became the first woman to serve as dean of the natural sciences faculty. She co-founded the Swiss Archaeological Society with Rudolf Laur-Belart in 1953. Further restoration of the statue began in autumn 1987 by Schmid and restorer Ute Wolf.

Schmid died on 27 March 1994.