Margaret E. B. Simpson

Margaret Eleanor Barbour Simpson, (13 October 1906 – 1 November 1994) was a Scottish archaeologist. She is considered as the first professional woman archaeologist in Scotland. She was a member of V. Gordon Childe's team of archaeologists at Skara Brae and Kindrochat, as well as the writer of some of the first guidebooks for state-owned historic properties in Scotland.

Early life Margaret Simpson grew up in Edinburgh, within a family of medics. She was the daughter of George Freeland Barbour Simpson, a Scottish physician, and Caroline Elizabeth Barbour, the granddaughter of Sir Alexander Russell Simpson (1838-1916), and the great-great niece of Sir James Young Simpson (1811-1870).

Personal life In 1941, Simpson married Frederick Root, private secretary to the First Commissioner of Works, at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. The couple lived in London before moving to Surrey in 1944. They had a daughter called Marilyn Ainslie.

Education Simpson matriculated (began studying) at the University of Edinburgh in 1925. From 1928 to 1929, she attended an archaeology class taught by Gordon Childe, entitled the First Ordinary Archaeology Class. Throughout her university degree, she participated in excavations at Kindrochat and Skara Brae in Orkney, under Professor Gordon Childe.

Career From 1929-30 she was the first secretary of the Edinburgh League of Prehistorians. She was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1930.

In June 1930, Simpson applied for a post as the Assistant Inspector of Ancient Monuments in the Ministry of Works. In a letter to Simpson, regarding her application, Gordon Childe wrote: "I am really very keen that they should get the right person and I think that you are it. It's good to have a woman." They were initially considered to be either tourists or local women visiting the site, but are now identified as Prof. Childe's students and members of his excavation crew.

Kindrochat Excavation 1929-1930

In 1929 Simpson was also one of the team of archaeologists who excavated the chambered cairn at Kindrochat (aka Kindrochet) in Perthshire, once more under the leadership of Gordon Childe. In his later correspondence he wrote that "she was entrusted with the examination of one of the megalithic chambers and produced, quite unaided, an excellent plan with elevations."

Guidebooks Simpson used her communication and writing skills to create some of the first guidebooks for state-owned properties in Scotland with James Richardson. These include Stirling and Balvenie Castles (1936) and Inchmahome Priory (1936) with Richardson, and Dunkeld Cathedral (1935) as a sole author.

Selected publications

The Cathedral of Dunkeld, Perthshire, Ancient monuments and historic buildings official guide. Margaret E. B. Simpson, Ministry of Works The Castle of Balvenie, Banffshire, Ancient monuments and historic buildings official guide. James Smith Richardson, Margaret E. B. Simpson, Ministry of Works The Priory of Inchmahome, Perthshire, Ancient monuments and historic buildings official guide. James Smith Richardson, Margaret E. B. Simpson, Ministry of Works Some later editions were published under her changed name of Margaret E. Root.