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Aina H. Pettersen

Project Manager - Museum administration
Visiting address Frederiks gate 3 0164 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 6762 St. Olavs plass 0130 Oslo
Other affiliations Department of Archaeology

Academic background

I have a broad and varied work experience in archaeology and the university sectors in England and Norway, with a specialization in the Iron Age and Viking Age. I hold a PhD in archaeology from NTNU, Trondheim and defended my dissertation in June 2022, titled "Farin Vestir and Back: Social and Itinerary Perspectives on Insular Objects in Viking-Age Norway."

Ongoing Research Project

My current Post-Doc project is titled "Silver and Society in a New Economic Era: Investigating the introduction of coinage and transition to Bullion Economies in Viking-Age Norway" and runs until October 2026. The aim of this project is to study economic changes from the early to late Viking Age by examining the incorporation and use of payment silver (coins and hack silver) from approximately 850–1000. This is a category of finds that is rarely found in graves.

Previous research on the topic has primarily focused on hoard finds and findings from urban centers, including Kaupang. This has led to a significant knowledge gap regarding the use of payment silver in non-urban areas in Scandinavia. However, the empirical material related to practices involving payment silver from the Viking Age has seen a dramatic increase in the last 10–15 years.

The project aims to utilize this untapped material from the collections of the Museum of Cultural History (and other university museums) to illuminate aspects of economic practices in geographical areas about which we currently have little knowledge.

Publications

  • Øien, Ruth Iren & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2024). Funerary Clothing and Bedding in the Viking-Age: The Examples From Hestnes and Skeiet, Central Norway. In Sauvage, Raymond (Eds.), From Life to Death in Iron Age and Medieval Vinjefjord. Unveiling Burial Practices, Settlement and Landscape History. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202801205. p. 197–216. doi: 10.23865/cdf.218. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2021). Evidence of Viking trade and 'Danelaw' connections? Inset lead weights from Norway and the western Viking World. Internet Archaeology. 56. doi: 10.11141/ia.56.10. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2020). Feasting, friendship and alliances: the socio-political use of Insular vessels in Viking-Age Norway. In Aannestad, Hanne Lovise; Pedersen, Unn; Moen, Marianne; Naumann, Elise & Berg, Heidi Lund (Ed.), Vikings Across Boundaries Viking-Age Transformations – Volume II. Routledge. ISSN 9780367364526. p. 11–24. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2020). Insular metalwork in Viking-Age Norway: Updating the corpus. In Pedersen, Anne & Sindbæk, Søren M. (Ed.), Viking encounters. Proceedings of the Eighteen Viking Congress. Aarhus Universitetsforlag. ISSN 9788771842654. p. 435–448. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). The earliest wave of viking activity? The Norwegian evidence revisited. European Journal of Archaeology. ISSN 1461-9571. 22(4), p. 523–541. doi: 10.1017/eaa.2019.19. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Lorentzen, Astrid Brønseth (2019). Roman Iron Age and Migration period building traditions and settlement organization at Vik, Ørland. In Ystgaard, Ingrid (Eds.), Environment and settlement: Ørland 600 BC - AD 1250. Archaeological excavations at Vik, Ørland main air base.. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202664831. p. 167–193. doi: 10.23865/noasp.89. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2018). Objects from a distant place: transformation and use of Insular mounts from Viking-Age burials in Trøndelag, Central Norway. Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History. ISSN 0264-5254. 21. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Murray, Griffin (2018). An Insular Reliquary from Melhus: The Significance of Insular Ecclesiastical Material in Early Viking- Age Norway. Medieval Archaeology. ISSN 0076-6097. 62(1), p. 53–80. doi: 10.1080/00766097.2018.1451522. Full text in Research Archive
  • Grønnesby, Geir & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Gården i yngre jernalder - et spørsmål om erkjennelse? Belyst ved utgravningen av et yngre jernalders gårdstun på Ranheim. Viking - Norsk arkeologisk årbok. ISSN 0332-608X. p. 169–188. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Insulære beslag fra vikingtidsgraver i Trøndelag: En undersøkelse av gjenstandenes bruk og betydning. Primitive tider. ISSN 1501-0430. 17, p. 1–14. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Insular artefacts from Viking-Age burials from mid-Norway. A review of contact between Trøndelag and Britain and Ireland. Internet Archaeology. 38. doi: 10.11141/ia.38.2. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2012). Norrøn trønderkvinne i fremmed land. Spor. ISSN 0801-5376. 2. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2025). Nordsjøkontakter i vikingtid: belyst gjennom arkeologiske gjenstander. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2024). Viking Age silver economies in the Viken area: Insights from Metal-Detecting Finds. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2022). The Viking Age: The question of the earliest North Sea Crossings. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2020). Gamle gjenstander kaster nytt lys over kvinners rolle i vikingtoktene. [Internet]. Kilden kjønnsforskning. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettit, Harry; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). DEAD STRANGE Bizarre Viking boat burial of ‘noble woman’ on top of ANOTHER corpse and ship baffles archaeologists. Experts dug up not one, but two corpses buried with their longboats in a grave dating back more than 1,000 years. [Internet]. https://www.thesun.co.uk. Full text in Research Archive
  • Férard, Emeline; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Un bateau-tombe viking vieux de 1200 ans intrigue les archéologues en Norvège. [Internet]. https://www.geo.fr. Full text in Research Archive
  • Rogers, James; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Mysterious double Viking boat burial discovered. [Internet]. https://nypost.com/. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Levangers eldste gård? Spor. ISSN 0801-5376. 1. Full text in Research Archive
  • Best, Shivali; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). 'Unusual' Viking boat grave contains bodies of 2 people who died 100 years apart. [Internet]. https://www.mirror.co.uk/. Full text in Research Archive
  • Lanese, Nicoletta; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Unusual Viking Burial Site in Norway Contains Two Stacked Boats, Each with a Body. [Internet]. https://www.livescience.com. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Irske vikingtidsfunn fra Oppdal. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Irske vikingtidsfunn fra Oppdal. Bøgda vår. ISSN 0800-790X. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hale, Tom; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Archaeologists Find A Viking Boat Grave Inside An Even Older Boat Grave. [Internet]. https://www.iflscience.com/. Full text in Research Archive
  • Martin, Sean; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Archaeology shock: ‘Unusual’ Viking graves discovered in Norway stun archaeologists. [Internet]. https://www.express.co.uk/. Full text in Research Archive
  • Starr, Michelle; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). This Viking Burial of a Boat Put in a Larger Boat 100 Years Later Is Pretty Confusing. [Internet]. https://www.sciencealert.com/. Full text in Research Archive
  • Lammerse, Vivian; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Mysterieus dubbel bootgraf zet archeologen voor een raadsel. [Internet]. https://www.scientias.nl/. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nikel, David; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). A Viking Grave Mystery in Norway. [Internet]. https://www.lifeinnorway.net/. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hansen, Frid Kvalpskarmo; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Mysteriet i vikinggraven. [Internet]. Gemini.no. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hansen, Frid Kvalpskarmo; Sauvage, Raymond & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2019). Mysterious Viking boat graves unearthed in central Norway. [Internet]. Norwegian SciTech News. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2018). Insular (British and Irish) metalwork from Viking-Age Norway. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Murray, Griffin (2018). The significance of ecclesiastical material in early Viking-Age Norway. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2018). Ukjent vikingeskatt på Vang gjenfunnet i Oslo. [Journal]. Opdalingen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2017). Arkeologiske funn fra vikingtidens langreiser. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Wolden, Grete (2016). Pyntet seg med tjuvgods fra vikingenes plyndringer. [Journal]. Gemini.no. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid; Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen; Fransson, Ulf; Mokkelbost, Marte & Gran, Magnar Mojaren (2016). Arkeologiske utgravninger ved Ørland kampflybase i 2015. Årbok for Fosen. ISSN 0333-0435. p. 159–174. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Theodorsen, Siri W. (2016). Fortsetter de arkeologiske undersøkelsene ved kampflybasen: - Dette er den klart største utgravingen i Midt-Norge i år. [Journal]. Fosna-Folket. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2016). Storgården på Vik. Spor. ISSN 0801-5376. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2016). How did a fitting from an Irish horse’s harness end up as a brooch for a Norwegian Viking woman? [Internet]. Heritagedaily.com. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2016). Bronsealdergården på Gjemble. Levanger Historielag. Årbok. ISSN 0803-1975. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). В Норвегии нашли следы первых контактов викингов и англосаксов. [Internet]. Nkj.ru. Full text in Research Archive
  • Grønnesby, Geir & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Vik - en forlatt vikingtidsgård på Ranheim. Årbok - Ranheim Bydels Museums Historielag. ISSN 1503-3260. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Britiske gjenstander fra nordtrønderske vikingtidsgraver. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Ystgaard, Ingrid (2015). Fant Levangers eldste bosetning. [Journal]. Levangeravisa. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Historiske utgravninger på Ørlandet. [Radio]. NRK Trøndelag: God ettermiddag Trøndelag. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Norvégiából jöttek az első vikingek a Brit-szigetekre. [Internet]. Mult-kor.hu. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Gravfund afslører: Norske vikinger var blandt de første i Storbritannien. [Internet]. Videnskab.dk. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid; Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen; Mokkelbost, Marte; Fransson, Ulf; Gran, Magnar Mojaren & Henriksen, Merete Moe [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). Vitenskapsmuseets utgravninger, med fokus på Ørland-prosjektet. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid; Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Okstad, Magnus (2015). Dette karet kan ha blitt brukt til mjød-drikking for 1600 år siden. [Journal]. Fosna-folket. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid; Fransson, Ulf; Gran, Magnar Mojaren; Normann, Staale; Mokkelbost, Marte & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Arkeologiske utgravninger på Ørland kampflybase. Full text in Research Archive
  • Eivindsen, Tove & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Trønderske vikinger hadde tidlig kontakt med britene. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid; Bjerkan, Eline & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Trøndelags største utgravning på ti år avdekker staselige gårder. [Journal]. Adresseavisen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Trøndelags største utgravning på 10 år avdekker staselige gårder. [Journal]. Adresseavisen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2015). Trønderske vikinger på langferder. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Wood, Philip (2015). Forgotten Treasures: Insular metalwork from Viking burials in Norway. British Archaeology Magazine. Full text in Research Archive
  • Haug, Anne & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Ny tidsregning for kavlevegen i Nesset: Trolig 3000 år gammel. [Journal]. Driva. Full text in Research Archive
  • Haug, Anne & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Historien må omskrives. Ferdselsåre trolig i bruk alt for 4000 år siden. [Journal]. Romsdals Budstikke. Full text in Research Archive
  • Grønnesby, Geir & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Vik - forlatt vikingtidsgård. Spor. ISSN 0801-5376. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Fragmenter av fortiden: Arkeologiske funn og utgravninger på Ranheim, Trondheim. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Graver frem Levangers eldste åker. [Journal]. Trønderavisa. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Avdekker spor fra jernalderen på Levanger. [Journal]. Levangeravisa. Full text in Research Archive
  • Aldra, Simon; Ystgaard, Ingrid & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Her lå det en gård for minst 1000 år siden. [Journal]. Trønder-Avisa. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Fragmenter fra fortiden: Arkeologiske funn og utgravninger på Ranheim. Full text in Research Archive
  • Eivindsen, Tove & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Trønderske vikinger tidlig på langferd. [Internet]. Gemini.no. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Arkeologisk funn fra Ranheim. Foredrag i fobindelse med "Ranheimsdagan 2014". Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). En vikingtids husfruegrav fra Nygården, Frosta. Frosta - før og no. Frosta Historielags Årbok 2014. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Spor av insulær identitet i vikingtidens Skandinavia? Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Nergaard, Halldis (2014). Røvet kirkegods. [Journal]. Adersseavisen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Eivindsen, Tove & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Mid-Norway Vikings among the first to sail to British Isles. [Internet]. Sciencenordic.com. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Resultater fra fjorårets arkeologiske undersøkelse på Ranheim, Trondheim. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Grønnesby, Geir (2014). Nå kartlegges funnene fra vikingetiden på Ranheim. [Journal]. Bydelsavisa Strinda. Full text in Research Archive
  • Stenvik, Lars Fredrik & Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Trønderske vikinger. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Nergaard, Halldis (2014). Husfruens drikkehorn. [Journal]. Adersseavisen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2014). Nye vikingebevis gjør trøndere til pionerer. [Internet]. Levangeravisa. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2013). Irske vikingtidsfunn fra en gravhaug på Island, Frosta. Frosta - før og no 2013. Frosta Historielags årbok. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2013). Fragmenter fra fortiden: Arkeologiske funn og utgravninger på Ranheim-med hovedvekt på resultater fra årets utgravninger. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2013). Røvergods i graver? Spor. ISSN 0801-5376. 1. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen (2013). Arkeologiske spor av Ranheims eldste historie. Full text in Research Archive
  • Grønnesby, Geir; Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Struksnes, Maren Ødegård (2013). Feltarkeologens høytid. [Radio]. NRK P1, Norgesglasset. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen; Callanan, Martin; Wærdahl, Randi Bjørshol & Pedersen, Unn (2022). Farin Vestir and back: Social and Itinerary Perspectives on Insular objects in Viking-Age Norway. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet. ISSN 9788232661312. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid; Gran, Magnar Mojaren; Mokkelbost, Marte; Fransson, Ulf Martin; Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Lorentzen, Astrid Brønseth [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2018_27. Arkeologiske utgravninger på Ørland kampflybase 2015-2016. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. ISSN 9788283221732. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ystgaard, Ingrid; Gran, Magnar Mojaren; Fransson, Ulf; Mokkelbost, Marte; Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Randerz, Ellen L.Wijgård (2016). Årsrapport 2015. De arkeologiske undersøkelsene ved Ørland kampflybase. Vik 70/1, Ørland, Sør-Trøndelag. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen; Haug, Anne & Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav (2015). NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2015/7. Arkeologisk undersøkelse av veifar/kavleveianlegg fra bronsealderen, Toven, Nesset, Møre og Romsdal. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. ISSN 9788283220285. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen; Ystgaard, Ingrid & Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav (2015). NNTU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2015/16. Arkeologisk undersøkelse av bosetningsspor, Gjemble lille, Levanger, Nord-Trøndelag. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. ISSN 9788283220391. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen; Ystgaard, Ingrid & Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav (2014). NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2014/11. Arkeologisk undersøkelse av gravhaug, Hovde, Ørland, Sør-Trøndelag. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. ISSN 9788283220100. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen; Haug, Anne & Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav (2014). NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2014/12. Arkeologisk sikringsundersøkelse av funnsted for gullbrakteat, gullblikk, gullring og sølvbeslag, Tornes, Fræna, Møre og Romsdal. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. ISSN 9788283220117. Full text in Research Archive
  • Pettersen, Aina Margrethe Heen & Stenvik, Lars (2013). Mellom De britiske øyer og Midt-Norge: En arkeologisk analyse av insulær kontakt og gjenstandsfunn fra vikingtidsgraver i Trøndelag. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Sep. 26, 2023 1:18 PM - Last modified June 13, 2025 2:07 PM