Helene Martinsson-Wallin
helene.martinsson-wallin@arkeologi.uu.se
I’m a Swedish Professor of Archaeology who specialise in Archaeology of the Pacific area with focus on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Samoa. I also research Stone and Bronze Age sites in the Baltic Island of Gotland and have a background working as an archaeologist on Åland Islands. My research embrace to investigate people living in the past and their landscape/seascape relationships but my research interests also extend to explore how we use and interpret archaeological finds and monuments in today’s society. One of my research issues concern how the colonial and post-colonial discourse influence how the past is perceived in the present and also how this play out in the current cultural heritage management and tourism on a global and local scale. The interactions between humans and landscapes/seascapes have more and more become a priority in my research and especially issues on biodiversity and sustainability in Island communities on a past, present and future scale. I use interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research methods since I think they provide a more nuanced and in-depth understanding of the interplay between human agency and earth systems over time.
I have a broad experience of archaeology and cultural heritage management in the Pacific and Baltic settings and previously worked in contract archaeology, as museum curator, researcher and university lecturer. My interest in archaeology and my curiosity of past material achievements was inspired at young age when I saw runic stone monument every day walking to school. I have since mainly directed my research towards monuments (materialised ideology) and landscapes to understand the long-time dynamics and complex societies. I would label myself a semi-empirical researcher where I consider the material remains to be a foundation for archaeological research and important to analyse and explain in various ways using methods from natural science but equally important to me is to interpret monuments and landscapes in the mindscape of people and in relationship to human agency both then and now.
I have previously acted several years as Academic Head of Department at Gotland University and have an affiliation as Adjunct Professor at The National University of Samoa since 2011 and Honorary Fellow at The Australian National University in 2001 and 2015-2017.
My current research projects are;
- Fisheries and coastal Development – the past, present and future in Gotland Island. 2021-2024. An interdisciplinary research project linked to the Graduate School on Sustainability together with Dr Lina Mtwana Nordlund Socio-Ecologist at the Department of Earth Science, Natural Resources and Sustainability at Uppsala University and graduate students Chiara D’Agata (socio-ecology) and Beatrice Krooks (archaeology/osteology). https://www.campusgotland.uu.se/sustainability/graduate-school/fiske--och-kustzonsutveckling/ My main focuses in the project are to research; shoreline displacement, sedDNA and marine resource use on Gotland Island.
- Sustainable visits in Rapa Nui – Glocal perspectives 2018-2024. A STINT-research collaboration with Programma Antropología, Universidad de Católica, Santiago de Chile and Fundasion Mata ki Te Rangi. Here I focus on issues on Sustainable Cultural Tourism and the relationship to Cultural Heritage Management in an Indigenous community as well as repatriations of archaeological remains.
I’m currently part of the supervisor’s collegium in the Graduate School in Sustainability (GRASS) at Campus Gotland. https://www.campusgotland.uu.se/sustainability/graduate-school/
I’m founder and administrator of the Interdisciplinary Island and Seascape Research Cluster https://www.facebook.com/groups/2226523077452878
I teach courses as: Cosmopolitan Pasts (400-level); Theory and Method in Archaeology (200-level), Anthropological perspectives in Archaeology (100-level) and I participate in Historical Ecology (400-level), A Sustainable Future Vision- Theory and Transdisciplinary methods (100 level), Human Security and Sustainability in Tropical Ecosystems (100-level), To build monuments and farm the soil (100-level).
To see more about my research and maybe download some of my articles:
https://www.katalog.uu.se/empinfo/?id=N12-2422
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helene_Martinsson-Wallin
https://uppsala.academia.edu/HeleneMartinssonWallin
Short CV:
Academic degrees:
1994 Doctoral degree in Archaeology (Pacific Archaeology), Thesis Title: Ahu – Ceremonial Stone Structures on Easter Island Uppsala University supervisor Professor Bo Gräslund.
1986 Magister degree Major: Archaeology, Minors: Osteology, Art History and Geosciences from Uppsala and Stockholm Universities. BA/Honors Thesis’s: Inbetween East and West -The Stone Age of Åland/ Cremated bones from The Iron Age Grave field of Gribbylund Täby/ Marae- an ethno-archaeological study of megalithic constructions on Tahiti (en etnoarkeologisk studie av megalitiska konstruktioner på Tahiti.)
Titles and Academic Affiliations
2017 Professor in Archaeology, Uppsala University
2015-2017 Honorary Fellow at Australian National University.
2011 Adjunct Professor National University of Samoa.
2008 Associate Professor Uppsala University.
Current Employment:
2017 Professor in Archaeology at Uppsala University, Department of Archaeology and Ancient History.
Earlier Employments:
2013-2017 Senior Lecturer (with Tenure), Uppsala University, Department of Archaeology and Ancient History
2008(1/9)-2013 (30/6). Senior Lecturer, Gotland University, Department of Archaeology and Osteology (with Tenure).
2006 (1/1)-2008 (31/7) Deputy Senior Lecturer (50%), Gotland University, Department of Archaeology and Osteology Chief Curator and
1997 (1/1) -2007 (31/7) Associate Professor, Chief Curator and Researcher. The Kon-Tiki Museum Institute for Pacific Archaeology and Cultural History (11.09.00-01.06.01 parental leave)
1992 (1/1) – 1994 (1/6) Doctoral Fellow at Uppsala University.
1981-1986 Assisting Archaeologist and Field Director at the Museum of Åland, Finland (Museibyrån).
Administrative assignments:
2013-2014 Adjunct Academic Head for Campus Gotland Branch, Department of Archaeology and Ancient History Campus Gotland Uppsala University.
2008-2010, 2012-2013. Academic Head (Ämnesansvarig) Department of Archaeology Gotland University
2005-2007 Program director (developer of program) the International Archaeology Program at Gotland University.
Publications
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Anakena Re-visited: New Perspectives on Old Problems at Anakena, Rapa Nui
Part of The Prehistory of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), p. 109-137, 2022.
DOI for Anakena Re-visited: New Perspectives on Old Problems at Anakena, Rapa Nui
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Warfare in Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Part of Archaeological Perspectives on Conflict and Warfare in Australia and the Pacific, p. 69-87, 2022.
Download full text (pdf) of Warfare in Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
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“Authenticity” as a Pathway to Sustainable Cultural Tourism?: The Cases of Gotland and Rapa Nui
Part of Sustainability, 2021.
DOI for “Authenticity” as a Pathway to Sustainable Cultural Tourism?: The Cases of Gotland and Rapa Nui Download full text (pdf) of “Authenticity” as a Pathway to Sustainable Cultural Tourism?: The Cases of Gotland and Rapa Nui
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More or less?: A conjunctural analysis of differing views on the development of cruise tourism
Part of Studia Periegetica, p. 49-70, 2021.
DOI for More or less?: A conjunctural analysis of differing views on the development of cruise tourism Download full text (pdf) of More or less?: A conjunctural analysis of differing views on the development of cruise tourism
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[Review of:] Debating Lapita: Distribution, Chronology, Society and Subsistence / edited by Stuart Bedford and Matthew Spriggs, 2019
Part of AUSTRALIAN ARCHAEOLOGY, p. 109-110, 2021.
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Landscape development at Lina myr fen, Eastern Gotland, 9000-2500 cal. yr BP
Part of The Holocene, p. 1205-1219, 2020.
DOI for Landscape development at Lina myr fen, Eastern Gotland, 9000-2500 cal. yr BP
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Gothemshammar - a Late Bronze Age coastal rampart on Gotland
Part of Fornvännen, p. 65-75, 2018.
Download full text (pdf) of Gothemshammar - a Late Bronze Age coastal rampart on Gotland
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Stones in the South: Decoding Bronze Age Ritual Practices on Gotland
Part of Current Swedish Archaeology, p. 227-256, 2017.
Download full text (pdf) of Stones in the South: Decoding Bronze Age Ritual Practices on Gotland
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Collective spaces and material expressions: ritual practice and island identities in Neolithic Gotland
Part of Decoding Neolithic Atlantic & Mediterranean island Ritual, p. 1-15-, 2016.
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Collective spaces and material expressions: ritual practice and island identities in Neolithic Gotland
Part of Decoding neolithic atlantic & mediterranean island ritual, p. 1-15, 2016.
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Reconsidering Precolumbian Human Colonization In The Galapagos Islands, Republic Of Ecuador
Part of Latin American antiquity, p. 169-183, 2016.
DOI for Reconsidering Precolumbian Human Colonization In The Galapagos Islands, Republic Of Ecuador
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Analysis of late mid-Neolithic pottery illuminates the presenceof a Corded Ware Culture on the Baltic Island of Gotland
Part of Documenta Praehistoria, p. 297-310, 2015.
DOI for Analysis of late mid-Neolithic pottery illuminates the presenceof a Corded Ware Culture on the Baltic Island of Gotland Download full text (pdf) of Analysis of late mid-Neolithic pottery illuminates the presenceof a Corded Ware Culture on the Baltic Island of Gotland
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Issues in the Management of Archaeological Heritage in Sāmoa
Part of The Journal of Samoan Studies, p. 1-16, 2015.
Download full text (pdf) of Issues in the Management of Archaeological Heritage in Sāmoa
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"Aku Aku from Afar" - Theory and Archaeology on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in an East Pacific Context
Part of Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki in New Ligth, p. 106-119-, 2014.
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Archaeological Investigations in Independent Samoa - "Tala Eli" of Laupule Mound and Beyond
Part of Monuments and People in the Pacific, p. 245-272-, 2014.
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Monuments and People: an Introduction
Part of Monuments and People in the Pacific, p. 9-44-, 2014.
Download full text (pdf) of Monuments and People: an Introduction
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Spatial Perspectives on Ceremonial Complexes: Testing Traditional Land Divisions on Rapa Nui
Part of Monuments and people in the Pacific, p. 317-342, 2014.
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Stone tools from the ancient Tongan state reveal prehistoric interaction centers in the Central Pacific
Part of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, p. 10491-10496, 2014.
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Chronogeographic Variation in Initial East Polynesian Construction of Monumental Ceremonial Sites
Part of Journal of island and coastal archaeology, p. 405-421, 2013.
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Belonging to a small, remote and special place: Rapa Nui, the long time perspective
Part of Kon-Tiki Museum. Occasional Papers, p. 41-48, 2011.
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Monumental Structures and the Spirit of Chiefly Actions
Part of Time & Mind, p. 43-58, 2011.
DOI for Monumental Structures and the Spirit of Chiefly Actions
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Prehistoric lifestyles on Gotland: Diachronic and Synchronic perspectives
Part of Archaeologia Lituana, p. 142-153, 2011.
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The complexity of an archaeological site in Samoa: the past in the present
Part of Pacific island heritage, p. 101-114, 2011.
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The Samoa Project: archaeological results, local participation and intercultural exchange
Part of Kon-Tiki Museum. Occasional Papers, p. 33-40, 2011.
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Baltic Prehistoric Interactions and Transformations: the Neolithic to the Bronze Age
2010.
Download full text 1 (pdf) of Baltic Prehistoric Interactions and Transformations: the Neolithic to the Bronze Age Download full text 2 (pdf) of Baltic Prehistoric Interactions and Transformations: the Neolithic to the Bronze Age
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Bronze Age Landscapes on Gotland: Moving from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age Perspective
Part of Baltic Prehistoric Interactions and Transformations, p. 63-77, 2010.
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Preface
Part of Baltic Prehistoric Interactions and Transformations: the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, p. 3-4, 2010.
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The Gotland Papers: Selected Papers from the VII International Conference on Easter Island and the Pacific : Migration, Identity, and Cultural Heritage
2010.
Download full text 1 (pdf) of The Gotland Papers: Selected Papers from the VII International Conference on Easter Island and the Pacific : Migration, Identity, and Cultural Heritage Download full text 2 (pdf) of The Gotland Papers: Selected Papers from the VII International Conference on Easter Island and the Pacific : Migration, Identity, and Cultural Heritage
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The story of the only (?) megalith grave on Gotland Island
Part of Documenta Praehistorica, p. 77-84, 2010.
Download full text (pdf) of The story of the only (?) megalith grave on Gotland Island
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Arkeologi, politik och identitet. Kulturell identitet i ett långtidsperspektiv på Påskön (Rapa Nui) i Östra Stilla Havet
Part of Arkeologi och identitet, p. 73-86-, 2008.
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Religious Structures in the Hanga Ho'onu Region
Part of Prehistoric Rapa Nui, p. 127-166, 2008.
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A Radiocarbon Sequence for Samoan Prehistory and the Pulemelei Mound
Part of Archaeology in Oceania, p. 71-82, 2007.
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Aku Aku from Afar
RAPANUI PRESS, 2007.
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Ecuadorian sailing rafts and Oceanic landfalls
Part of Vastly Ingenious. , p. 117-134, 2007.
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Monumental architecture in West Polynesia: origins, chiefs and archaeological approaches
Part of Archaeology in Oceania, p. 28-39, 2007.
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Settlement Patterns: Social and Ritual Space in Prehistoric Samoa
Part of Archaeology in Oceania, p. 83-89, 2007.
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The excavations of Pulemelei site 2002-2004
Part of Archaeology in Oceania, p. 41-59, 2007.