Portland’s archaeologist Susann Palmer died aged 99 on 8th January 2023.
Susann Louisa Palmer (nee Kotzé) was born in South Africa in 1923, where she worked for some years as a journalist before coming to Britain in 1947 to work for the BBC (overseas) as a programme organiser and translator. In the 1960s she worked in the British Museum, before being appointed Curator of the London Borough of Bromley Museum.
Susann conducted her early work on Portland while still living in London, but she moved here to her ‘spiritual home’ on her retirement in the 1980s.
Susann Palmer had numerous professional and academic qualifications. She lectured extensively on European, British, Irish, Egyptian and Middle Eastern archaeology: American and Australian anthropology,
She has always had an interest in the arts, traditional music and anything to do with the past. She was also the author of a book of poetry.
I knew Susann well since 1968, when I joined her as a founder member of the Portland Field Research Group. It was her initiative to form this organisation to research, record and promote the rich archaeological and historical facets of the Island and Royal Manor of Portland.
Mrs Palmer was a lady of formidable talent, with an intense desire to bring archaeology to the widest possible community. Her discovery on this island of what eventually became recognised as one of Europe’s most important Mesolithic habitation sites captured widespread interest. Being so long ago, that particular epoch is often regarded as obscure and difficult for the layman to grasp. However, through her enthusiasm and ability to get amateurs and professionals working together, she has managed to bring a 7,000-year-old community to life, from the tiniest of fragments and artefacts. Her Culverwell site at Portland Bill, with its interpretation and published material, became a resource of great educational and intellectual value.
It was only through her expertise and dogged professionalism that she overcame initial scepticism of the nature and value of that site even among fellow experts. Her Culverwell site was included in the Guinness Book of Records, for which Susann was an Archaeological Consultant from 1970-1994.
Her lifetime work was recognised in 2004 at a British Archaeological Awards ceremony in Belfast. As Director of the Association for Portland Archaeology (APA), Susann was presented with the Pitt-Rivers Award for the best voluntary archaeological project in the country, and the Graham Webster Laurels award for a project with a substantial educational element.
She was an outspoken champion of the whole gamut of environmental issues surrounding her unique island. Over 40 years she has led countless campaigns to protect vulnerable features like the Pleistocene raised beaches at Portland Bill, and the famous Chesil Beach on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast. She was not afraid to challenge authority when she felt not enough was being done to safeguard the environment. In earlier years she led specialist tours to the Middle East and Europe.
Her expertise went well beyond archaeology. She was also a geomorphologist and was knowledgeable in geology and the natural sciences for which the Portland area is renowned.
Susann Palmer’s most recent project was as Director (with Denene Reilly) of a major multi-period (Neolithic, Iron-age, Romano-British, Medieval) archaeological site at Weston, Portland, where rare finds of national significance were discovered. The technical Report of that enigmatic place has been described as ‘mind-blowing’. (That excavation has been temporarily covered for protection, pending future resumption.)
Susann’s talent and expertise knew no bounds. She once wrote a book of poetry (in Africaans), and beyond her numerous academic articles and publications was the definitive book “The Hurdy-Gurdy”, written in conjunction with her son, Sam Palmer who is a highly skilled musical instrument maker and hurdy-gurdy player.
She spoke German, Dutch, Afrikaans and English.
Susann Palmer was small of stature but big of mind. She continued her work and enthusiasm well into her 90s, which is even more remarkable considering the personal tragedies she faced.
She had four children, two of whom, Roy and Samuel, survive her. The tragic death of her two beloved young granddaughters hit her hard, as did the loss of her own daughter, Marie. Remarkably, for 70+ years she was the constant carer for her severely disabled son, Jesse.
Susann Palmer ended her days in a Weymouth care home, not in her Weston, Portland cottage as she had wished, and died in her 100th year.
Stuart Morris
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