A Life Shaped by Exploration

My academic path began in geology and geochemistry and developed into an interdisciplinary career bridging science and archaeology. I explored human mobility, identity, and ancient textile production by developing and applying advanced scientific methods.

As Denmark’s first Professor of Archaeometry—and the first permanently appointed professor in any field at the National Museum of Denmark—I helped establish and shape a research field without an academic precedent in Denmark. Creating a path where none yet existed required a willingness to take personal risks, as well as scientific rigor, patience, collaboration across disciplines, and the courage to pursue novel questions.

Alongside my research, I contributed to the public understanding of archaeology through studies of well-known Bronze Age individuals, including the Egtved Girl and the Skrydstrup Woman. I initiated and led international research projects, secured several prestigious research grants, received national and international research awards, and was elected a life member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

My academic years continue to shape how I observe, ask questions, and engage with complexity. Although the ways in which I express my curiosity have evolved, that same curiosity continues to guide much of what I do today.