Jan Bill (PhD, born 1961) is Professor of Viking Age Archaeology and since 2007 curator of the Viking Ship Collection at the Museum of Cultural History.
Background
I worked 2003–2007 at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde as Head of Research, Exhibition and Antiquarian Work and senior researcher.
Before that I was 10 years at the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the National Museum of Denmark as a PhD student, researcher, senior researcher, research group director (1997–2003) and deputy director (1999–2000).
In 2001–2007 I also teached part-time in maritime archaeology at the University of Aarhus. I have experience with teaching and supervising students on bachelor, master and PhD-level and am currently supervising two PhD-projects.
Research interests
My area of research encompasses a varied range of themes within Viking Age and medieval archaeology, notably seafaring, burial archaeology and the application of scientific methods.
The interpretation of the Norwegian ship burials – among those Oseberg and Gokstad – is one important focal point which has directed my interests towards the representation and maintenance of power through burials. Another is the history of seafaring and its interaction with the development of more complex societies.
I have published my research in around 15 papers in scientific journals, 4 books and booklets, 20 chapters in books and 10 papers in conference proceedings.
Projects
I have directed a number of archaeological excavations and am leading the Gokstad revitalised research project.
I am collaborator in a number of other research projects, including "Tracking Viking-assisted dispersal of biodiversity using ancient DNA" and "Population Genomics of the Vikings".
In 2009–2010 I attended The Educational Programme for Research Leaders, University of Oslo.
Institutional responsibilities, Commissions of trust, Rewards
I am involved in the establishing of the new Museum of the Viking Age at the Museum of Cultural History in various roles concerning the academic content and the safety and exhibition of the ships.
I am member of the Steering Group for the Saving Oseberg Project, Head of the Steering Group for the Gjellestad excavation project and project leader for the ADED project.
I am a member of the Wissenschaftlicher Beirat des Niedersächsischen Institut für historische Küstenforschung.
Untill 2019 I was board member and, since 2016, Head of Board of Collegium Medievale.
I am being used as referee in PhD exams, articles, grant and tenure applications and book reviews. I have presented papers at many conferences, including the Viking Congress in 2001, 2005, 2013 and 2017.
In 2017 I was awarded the Aage Rothenborgs Endowment for my work with early medieval, Scandinavian maritime culture.