Monday, March 27, 2006

Examining the Life of Tess Goell, a Pioneering Archaeologist

Tess Goell was the kind of American heroine that seemed to exist only in 1930's movies, played by Katharine Hepburn or Rosalind Russell. They were women bravely striding into what was largely believed to be a man's world — flying planes, battling city hall, working in formerly all-male offices or newsrooms. Goell strode into archaeology, a divorced, hearing-impaired Jewish woman amid Muslims in southern Turkey.

Her story, "Queen of the Mountain," a one-hour documentary directed by Martha Goell Lubell, a niece, has the feel of an affectionate family portrait, but that is not a complaint. The film, to be shown on Channel 13 tomorrow, is a strong, rich narrative with visuals to match.


I vaguely remember seeing a documentary about this site and perhaps Goell. Might be a manuacured memory though.