Dorothea Bate was born in Napier House, Spilman Street, Carmarthen in 1878.

Dorothea had no formal education but seems to have been fascinated by nature and wildlife. In 1898, she went, on her own initiative, to the Natural History Museum in London and asked for work. Although she was so young and unqualified, she was the first woman to be employed as a scientist by the Museum. She became a world-renowned expert in the field of archaeozoology.

The focus of her research was to explore the reasons for change and adaptation among the different species. She did this by studying fossils and spent a considerable amount of time in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Dorothea also had a keen interest in climate change. 

Dorothea was one of the most prominent scientists of her generation and continued her work until her death in 1948.

Ganwyd Dorothea Bate yn Nhŷ Napier, Stryd Spilman yn 1878.

Ni chafodd Dorothea fawr o addysg ffurfiol ond mae’n ymddangos iddi gael ei swyno gan fyd natur a bywyd gwyllt. Yn 1898, aeth ar ei liwt ei hun i’r Amgueddfa Astudiaethau Natur yn Llundain a gofyn am waith. Er ei bod mor ifanc a heb gymwysterau, hi oedd y fenyw gyntaf i’w chyflogi yn wyddonydd gan yr Amgueddfa. Daeth yn arbenigwraig fyd enwog ym maes archaesŵoleg.

Canolbwynt ei maes llafur oedd archwilio’r rhesymau dros newid ac addasu ymhlith y gwahanol rywogaethau. Gwnaeth hyn trwy astudio ffosilau a threuliodd dipyn o amser yn ardal Môr y Canoldir a’r Dwyrain Canol. Roedd ganddi ddiddordeb mawr hefyd mewn newid hinsawdd.

Yn wir, roedd Dorothea yn un o wyddonwyr mwyaf amlwg ei chenhedlaeth tan ei marwolaeth yn 1948.