She was President of Société Préhistorique Française, following her work at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique.
Her two most famous works are the discovery of the "flower burial" in Shanidar 4 tomb, and the analysis of Ramses II's mummy.
Leroi-Gourhan was born Arlette Royer on 9 January 1913 in Paris, to a family of wealthy manufacturers.
André Leroi-Gourhan lead the prehistory department at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), so he encouraged Arlette not to seek a position at the centre in order to avoid the appearance of nepotism.
In 1971 Leroi-Gourhan served as President of the Société Préhistorique Française (Prehistorical Society of France).