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Black and white image of Rosemary Cramp

The Archaeology Department co-founder and pioneer will be recognised for her importance to local history and heritage.

Professor Dame Rosemary Cramp is one of three individuals who will be honoured this year, as part of South Tyneside's Blue Plaque scheme. She was a pioneering figure in archaeology, particularly in the field of Anglo-Saxon archaeology.

Rosemary was a trailblazer, the first female professor at Durham University, and amongst many achievements, Rosemary also founded the large and long-running Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture research project. This was the first comprehensive catalogue of the surviving stone sculpture from pre-Conquest England, and records many previously inaccessible pieces.

Rosemary at StoweProfessor Dame Rosemary Cramp at Stowe, recording a fragment of a ninth-century cross shaft for the Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture.

Rosemary's commemorative plaque will be installed at Jarrow Hall, a museum that grew out of her team's excavations and significant Anglo-Saxon discoveries at the site.

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Our Department of Archaeology is a leading centre for the study of archaeology and is ranked 10th in the world (QS World University Rankings by subject 2023). We are an inclusive, vibrant and international community. Our students develop knowledge and gain essential and transferable skills through research-led teaching and lab-based training.