Archaeological Research

The scientific staff are actively engaged in research focusing for the most part on projects within individual fields of interest and specialization. Larger international and interdisciplinary research projects are also undertaken, particularly in relation to cultural heritage management.

Melkøya Project
Large-scale mitigation excavations of Stone Age sites in 2001 and 2002 on the island of Melkøya near Hammerfest in western Finnmark financed by Statoil.

Rock Art in Alta
World Heritage Site with rock art dating to ca. 4200-0 BC. Knut Helskog

Stone Age Settlement on the Kola Peninsula, Russia
International project focusing on the excavation of house sites. Knut Helskog

National Rock Art Project
Preservation and conservation of rock art sites in North Norway as part of a ten year national project. Work includes covering rock art. Bjørn Hebba Helberg

Management of Submerged Cultural Resources in North Norway
Cultural remains found in both freshwater and saltwater are protected by law. Maritime Archaeologist Stephen Wickler

Application of Geophysical Methods in Maritime Archaeology
Waterborne geophysical surveys as a component of research and management projects. Stephen Wickler

Borg Maritime Cultural Landscape Project
Documenting transformations of the maritime landscape at Borg, an Iron Age power centre in Lofoten. Current research focus on boathouses.
Stephen Wickler

Harbour Development during the Iron Age and Medieval Period
Changes in maritime activity are reflected in submerged and terrestrial archaeological evidence. Stephen Wickler

Chronology of Boat and Ship Construction in North Norway
Dating of vessel remains at Tromsø Museum ranging from bog finds to wrecks. Stephen Wickler

Prehistoric Settlement in Western Micronesia
Early settlement in Palau and the northern Mariana Islands, western Pacific. Stephen Wickler

Russian Hunting on Svalbard Russian hunting activity since the 1700s is the subject of a doctoral thesis. Tora Hultgreen

Commercial Whaling in the North Atlantic
Whaling on Svalbard and in North Norway during the 16th and 17th centuries. Roger Jørgensen

Early Iron Production in North Norway
Iron production sites were unknown in North Norway until the 1990's. Roger Jørgensen

Iron Age Courtyard Sites in North Norway
Tracing the chronolgy and role of courtyard sites in Iron Age society. Inger Storli

Viking Age Chieftains in Hålogaland
Documenting the role of chieftains from Hålogaland in creating a national political identity. Inger Storli

Borg, an Iron Age Cheiftain Centre in Lofoten
Interdisciplinary/international excavations of longhouse structures provide unique archaeological evidence from a cheiftain seat in North Norway.