Tributes have been paid to a talented and outspoken archaeologist from Portland, who has died aged 99.

It is thought that Susann Palmer did more than anyone to bring the ancient history of Portland to life.

Although born in South Africa to a Dutch Orthodox church minister who was a fervent creationist, during a long and distinguished career as an archaeologist, it became her mission to uncover the prehistory of Portland, which had been known for little more than its stone.

Susann Palmer was a woman of formidable talent, with an intense desire to bring archaeology to the widest possible community.

Dorset Echo: Susann Palmer at the Mesolithic site on Portland Susann Palmer at the Mesolithic site on Portland (Image: Newsquest)

Her discovery on Portland of what eventually became recognised as one of Europe’s most important Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) habitation sites captured worldwide interest.

Through her enthusiasm and ability to get amateurs and professionals working together, she managed to bring an 8,000-year-old community to life from the tiniest of fragments and artefacts.

Her Culverwell site at Portland Bill has since become a resource of great educational and academic value.

Her lifetime work was recognised in 2004 by the Council for British Archaeology, while the Association for Portland Archaeology, of which she was a founder and director, won awards for its voluntary archaeological projects and educational contribution.

Dorset Echo:

She was an outspoken champion of environmental issues affecting Dorset.

Over 40 years Susann led countless campaigns to protect vulnerable features, including the 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.

Her most recent project, completed in 2009, 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, including bone fragments of the extinct Great Auk.

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 World Service as a programme presenter, producer and translator.

In the 1960s she worked in the British Museum, before becoming curator of the London Borough of Bromley Museum. She conducted her early work on Portland while still living in London, but moved to her “spiritual home” on her retirement in the 1980s.

Dorset Echo: Susann Palmer pictured with Maggie Snook at Portland Bill in 2009Susann Palmer pictured with Maggie Snook at Portland Bill in 2009 (Image: Newsquest)

She had numerous professional and academic qualifications and lectured extensively on European, British, Irish, Egyptian and Middle Eastern archaeology, as well as American and Australian anthropology.

She had a passionate interest in the arts, traditional music and anything to do with the past.

Susann’s talent and expertise knew no bounds. She once wrote a book of poetry (in Afrikaans), and beyond her numerous academic articles and publications she wrote the definitive book “The Hurdy-Gurdy” on that instrument with her son, Samuel Palmer, a musical instrument maker and musician.

Susann Palmer was small of stature but big of mind. She continued her work and pursued her enthusiasms 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 daughter, Marie.

Remarkably, for 70 years she was the carer for her late son, Jesse, who had learning difficulties.