Jane Renfrew

Jane Renfrew, Lady Renfrew of Kaimsthorn is a British archaeologist and paleoethnobotanist noted for her studies on the use of plants in prehistory, the origin and development of agriculture, food and wine in antiquity, and the origin of the vine and wine in the Mediterranean. Biography Jane Renfrew was born to the Venerable Walter Frederick Ewbank. Since a young age she has shown an interest in the past, having participated in her first archaeological excavation when she was just 12 years old. As an undergraduate at New Hall College, Cambridge, she published her first book entitled "Antiquary on Horseback" (1963), with her maiden name. The volume resulted from transcribing and editing manuscripts left by Thomas Machell, rector of Kirkby Thore, Cumbria. During this period she also gained an interest in botany, and consequently paleoethnobotany. At Cambridge she met Colin Renfrew, with whom she married and had 3 children (Helena Renfrew-Knight, Alban Renfrew, Magnus Renfrew). She took part in excavations in Greece (Nea Nikomedeia, Saliagos and Sitagroi) and the Balkans and during this time collected seeds both at excavations and museums in the region, samples which would be the basis for her doctoral thesis at Cambridge.