About the UCPH School of Archaeology

UCPH School of Archaeology is a cross-faculty initiative bringing together the rich diversity of expertise in the field of archaeology found at the University of Copenhagen in unique and innovative ways.

The University of Copenhagen has a long and acclaimed history of conducting and producing high quality research based on archaeological data. Today, archaeology is undergoing a resurgence as a consequence of methodological and theoretical innovations such as advances in digital imaging and ancient DNA research with an increased awareness of the value of archaeology as a way to safeguard cultural heritage.

UCPH School of Archaeology aims to combine the talents and resources of the many researchers working across multiple disciplines to create a community for scholarly conversations and exchange of ideas. It serves both as a platform for interdisciplinary cooperation, as well as a forum for new partnerships and research projects, promoting young academics, organizing joint events and collaborating with museums and archaeology environments in Denmark, Europe and beyond.

Range and composition

Archaeology at UCPH explores the development of human cultures and societies from the earliest humans to the present day, based on the study of their material remains. Due to its nature, it draws on theories and methods from across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, ranging from history and art history, philosophy, linguistics and theology to anthropology and sociology as well as botany, geology, osteology, zoology, and more. An extensive assortment of methodologies are used to unearth, process, date, and diagnose data. State of the art archaeological methods are deployed alongside new technologies in chemistry, biology, and physics including e.g. genomics, proteomics, ancient DNA, lipid and isotope analysis.

UCPH archaeologists also collaborate with experts in the fields of law and heritage to ensure the proper preservation and treatment of archaeological remains. As a result, archaeology engages in a remarkably extensive collaboration with other disciplines and is practiced at various departments and faculties across UCPH.

Steering committee and network

Steering committee

The UCPH School of Archaeology is a collaborative endeavor between the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Theology.

The steering committee comprises representatives from all three faculties:

Amalie Skovmøller, Art History, Department of Arts and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities
Chiara Villa, Forensic Anthropology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eva Andersson Strand (Head of School), Centre for Textile Research, Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities
Hannes Schroeder, Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Joe Roe, Near Eastern Archaeology, Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities
Matthew Collins (Deputy Head), Section for Geobiology, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Matthew David Larsen, Section of Biblical Exegesis, Faculty of Theology
Pernille Bangsgaard, Section for Geogenetics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Rune Iversen, Prehistoric Archaeology, Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities

Alternate members

Wolfgang Thomas Gerhard Filser, Classical Archaeology, Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities
Luise Ørsted Scharff Brandt, Section for Geobiology, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Marie Louise Schjellerup Jørkov, Section for Geogenetics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Anne Birgitte Gotfredsen, Section for Geogenetics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Thomas Olander, Indo-European studies, Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities
Tobias Richter, Near Eastern Archaeology, Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities

Advisory board

Barbara Horejs, Prof. Dr., Scientific Director/Deputy Executive Director, Austrian Archaeological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences and HEAS & UHA, University of Vienna
Cecilie Brøns, Senior Researcher, Curator of Ancient Greek and Roman Art, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Esben Aarsleff, Head of Archaeology, Museum North Zealand
Kerstin Lidén, Professor, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University
Lars Højer, Deputy Director, Research, Collections and Conservation, National Museum of Denmark
Peter Jordan, Professor of Archaeology, Lund University