Axel Christophersen is JMA Chair from April to June 2023. Photo: Jan Steffen, Cluster ROOTS

How are climate, nutrition, health, and general welfare in medieval cities connected? Norwegian archaeologist Axel Christophersen has been intensively working on these research questions for many years. Currently he is visiting Kiel as a holder of the Johanna Mestorf Academy Chair to discuss his research and exchange results with colleagues from the Cluster of Excellence ROOTS, particularly within the Subcluster Urban ROOTS. As part of his visit, he is giving a Public Lecture titled "Why does she act this way"? on 15 May.

In his lecture, he will present an oblique look at interdisciplinary cooperation, opportunities and limitations in archaeological observation, documentation and analysis work. The title of the lecture is taken from a book of Astrid Lindgren, where a subterranean being wonders why two human legs are sticking out of the ceiling of her earth cave. In interdisciplinary projects, one can be confronted with such questions: What is this? Why is it done that way, etc.? Urban archeology, in the Nordic countries and elsewhere, has always been much about experimenting and working with different disciplines. In the wake of such collaborative relationships, notorious challenges arise. Axel Christophersen will reflect on these challenges on the background of his own research in Norway.
Currently, Axel Christophersen is professor for Historical Archaeology at the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim. From 2016 to 2021, he coordinated the cross-disciplinary project “Medieval urban health: From individual to public responsibility AD 1000-1600” funded by Norwegian Research Council.

Between 2002-2013 he was appointed Director of the NTNU University Museum. During his time as director the museum was awarded the Trondheim City´s Residents Associations Award (2009), The Museum of the Year in Norway (2010) and membership in the European Museum Excellence Club - Best in Heritage (2011). In 2013 he returned to his professorship in historical archaeology. In 2014 he was research Fellow at the McDonald Institute of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. Since 1994, Axel Christophersen is member of The Royal Norwegian Society of Science and Letter.

Public Lecture by JMA Chair Axel Christophersen as part of the “Archäologisches Kolloquium” Series of the Institute for Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology.
Title: "Why does she act this way?" - An oblique look at interdisciplinary cooperation, opportunities and limitations in archaeological observation, documentation and analysis work.
Date: May 15, 2023 from 06:30 PM to 08:30 PM
Venue: Johanna-Mestorf-Str. 2–6 (Eingang 4, Erdgeschoss, R. 28), 24118 Kiel / hybrid

Download Poster for Lecture Series