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Jes Martens

Associate Professor - Archaeological Collections

Email jes.martens@khm.uio.no

Mobile phone +47 90 91 91 41

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Visiting address St. Olavs gate 29 0166 Oslo

Postal address Postboks 6762 St. Olavs plass 0130 Oslo

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Jes Martens (PhD, born 1961) is associate professor of the Early Iron Age at the Museum of Cultural History since 1999.

Background

Before that he was executive officer (archaeologist) at the Swedish National Board of Antiquities (Riksantikvarieämbetet) in Lund (1996–1999) and before that he held scholarships at the University of Copenhagen (1992–1996) and the National Museum of Denmark (1990–1992).

Martens finished his MA at the University of Aarhus in 1990, including a year at the University of Warsaw (1982–1983). The PhD was obtained at the University of Copenhagen in 1998. Martens has held several scholarships such as the Carlsberg foundation, Deutsche Akademische Austausch Dienst, NorFa, the Danish Research Council of the Humanities and Queen Margrethe II foundation.

Martens has taught archeology at the University of Copenhagen and the University of Oslo and has delivered guest lectures at a number of universities in Northern Europe. Martens has functioned as censor at the Universities of Copenhagen, Oslo and Tromsø.

Research interests

Martens has dealt with a wide variety of subjects chronologically (from the Stone Age to the Medieval period) as well as thematically (history of research, archaeology and politics, archaeological method and theory, ethnicity etc), but the main focus of his research is on the subjects "The Early Iron Age in Northern and Northern Central Europe" and "settlement archaeology". He has published more than 60 papers in national and international journals, books and enciclopediae (in English, German, Italian, Polish, Danish and Norwegian) and has edited or been coeditor of five books. In addition he has presented papers at more than 50 international conferences as well as being the initiator of more than 10 such events.

Martens has initiated several research projects, the earliest being the reinvestigation of the Borremose site (1989–1996) for which he, in 1994, received the Charlie Christensen award of the Royal Society of Nordic Antiquities. Martens participate in the international network "Die vorrömische Eisenzeit in nördlichen Mitteleuropa", a Scandinavian network on prehistoric hillforts as well as a national network on settlement archaeology.

In 2008 Martens was invited to become a member of the scientific board of the reknown international archaeological periodical OFFA.

Tags: Archeology, Iron Age, Settlement Archaeology, Early Iron Age pottery, Armament in the Early Iron Age

Martens, Jes (2025). Pins on the Run. Traces of (Cimbri) migrations from the Jutland peninsula during the third century BC. PLURAL - Journal of the History and Geography Department, 'Ion Creanga', Pedagogical State University. ISSN 2345-1262. 13(1), p. 7–33. doi: 10.37710/plural.v13i1_2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
During the last fifty years, archaeological evidence of a migration from Jutland and the Jastorf culture towards the Black Sea area across Poland has increased. This process seems to have taken place mainly during the third century BC. At the same time certain areas along the North Sea coast seem to have been more or less depopulated. The area fits with the area which has been ascribed to the Cimbri by ancient authors, the problem beeing that their exodus by historians usually is dated to 120 BC. The paper questions the base of this dating, as there are no traces of an exodus from that time. Besides, the areas beeing depopulated during the third century BC are areas where such an event as described by the ancient authors as the reason for the exodus may occur. However, if one accepts the third century BC as the date of the start of the migration one has to accept a much longer duration of the migration, perhaps with stops on the way. Reexamining the written sources they may actually support such a suggestion and linking the third century archeological evidence with the historical sources make many of the apparently "impossible" parts of the writings quite plausible.
Martens, Jes; Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen & Finnebråten, Charlotte Nueva (2025). A third century kingly manor in Norway. The European Archaeologist. ISSN 1022-0135. 85, p. 21–30. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2023). The migration of the Cimbri Connecting history and archaeology. In Guichard, Vincent (Eds.), Continuités et discontinuités à la fin du IIe siècle avant notre ère dans l'espace celtique et à sa périphérie. Actes de la table-ronde de Glux-enGlenne, 25-27 octobre 2021. BIBRACTE EPCC. ISSN 9782490601134. p. 241–248. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
In this article, we explore the relationship between the Celtic cultures and the northern European plain region. We examine the exchange of goods, technologies, organizations, and religions between these two regions to better understand this relationship. Our focus is particularly on the period of the 2nd century BC and we aim to detect traces of continuity and/or discontinuity in the northern plain region. To achieve this, we rely on the study of material elements from Jutland and extend our analysis to Scandinavia and northern Germany, to the extent possible. We argue that the start of the Cimbri is much earlier than the five to six years usually ascribed to the prehistoric part of their migration. Since the written sources point at the area of the Jastorf culture or Jutland as its source it is obvious to look for traces of Jastorf migration and this we have abundantly in the 3rd and early part of the 2nd Century BC connecting the Southwestern North Sea area with the Northwestern Black Sea area. The Cimbri could therefore follow a well-established route. The reason why we gradually loose their track is that the migration due to the time spent on the travel is gradually transforming partly because of renewal of equipment and partly due to that new people were absorbed by the migration. Therefore, when they finally came into contact with the Romans, the migrants would appear more as Celts than Cimbri.
Martens, Jes (2022). Ball Brooches in the Age of Citizen Science. Plural. 10(1), p. 95–114. doi: 10.37710/plural.v10i1_5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Ball brooches make a difficult research theme in Denmark. This is mainly because very few of the hitherto published specimens were found in a context or under circumstances that help to shed light on their chronology. The most recently published study is a very brief paper by Jesper Laursen on the chronology and typology of ball brooches (Laursen 1984). Laursen’s paper was published at a time when hobby metal detecting was only at its early stages in Denmark. Therefore, this hobby had not yet had its impact on the material. Metal detecting favors objects with much metal and since cultivated soil contains a lot of iron waste most hobby detectorists tend to screen for iron. Consequently, objects of bronze, silver and gold will have a tendency to dominate the finds brought in by these people, and especially massive objects. Thus, ball brooches, especially the cast bronze specimens, would have a good chance to be detected and collected. As the internet developed, some private sites were established were the finders themselves published their finds. Recently the app named DIME was launched by University of Aarhus (in September 2018) and until today (29.09.2021) 121.186 finds have been registered by private users in the database. The newly available information, correlated with the previous ones, offers the possibility of a preliminary study of the ball brooches, as demonstrated in this article.
Martens, Jes & Christensen, Charlie (2022). Borremose. Landsbyen, mosen og landskabet - naturvidenskabelige undersøgelser. Aarbøger for nordisk oldkyndighed og historie. ISSN 0084-585X. 2018, p. 17–93. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
I årene 1989-1991 foretog Natinalmuseet en serie målrettede efterundersøgelser af det kendte, fredede fortidsminde Borremosefæstningen i det centrale Vesthimmerland. I denne artikel fremlægger den ansvarlige for de naturvidenskabelige undersøgelser, Charlie Christensen, og leder af projektet, Jes Martens, resultatet af disse undersøgelser og deres konsekvenser for forståelsen af anlægget og dets historie. Artiklen forholder sig også til de tidligere undersøgelser foretaget af DGU og på baggrund af dette rekonstrueres stedets historie. DGU’s pollenserier var udtaget af lagserier, der var forstyrret af tørvegravning i jernalderen, hvorfor tidsrummet lige før og under bosættelsen ikke var repræsenteret i pollendiagrammerne. Nationalmuseets analyserede pollenserie var udtaget i et uforstyrret område, hvorved efterfølgende forløb kunne fastlægges. En klimatisk betinget vandstandsstigning omkring 800 f.kr. medfører at birkeskoven på Lille Borremose drukner, og der dannes lokale søer på de lavereliggende områder. Samtidig ryddes lindeskoven på den lille holm i sydenden af mosen. Efter græsning overgår vegetationen på holmen i lynghede. Tidligt i førromersk jernalder ses begyndende højmosedannelse i den omgivende mose og omtrent samtidig (i det fjerde århundrede f. Kr.) anlægges en vej ud til holmen som befæstes og bebygges. I bebyggelsens levetid sker der en hurtig vækst i tørvedannelsen. I det andet århundrede f.Kr. nedlægges landsby og voldgrav, som derefter udjævnes og omdannes til ager. I de forseglende fyldlag fra voldgraven findes keramik, som daterer hændelsen til slutfasen af førromersk eller tidlig ældre romersk jernalder. Samtidig ses der i pollendiagrammerne en stigning i kornpollen. Den dyrkede ager har på sines steder nået ud over voldgraven. I det fjerde-femte århundrede er dyrkningen forbi og højmosedannelsen er så fremskredet at tørven ekspanderer ind over voldgraven og marken. I hele det undersøgte tidsrum er mosen blevet udnyttet til tørvegravning.
Martens, Jes (2021). Casted bronze brooches of Kostrzewski's type K with wide bows. A Scandinavian variant of the late derivates of Kostrzewskis's K-brooch. In Michalowski, Andrzej (Eds.), Typologia Dziejów - Dzieje w typologii. Postrzeganie swiata mlodzego okresu przedrzymskiego w 100 lat po Die ostgermanische Kultur der Spätlatenezeit.. Wydzial Archeologii UAM. ISSN 9788394659172. p. 95–116. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
A presentation of a local type of brooches known from Eastern Norway and Central Sweden. A bronze casters hoard from Väster Götland seem to indicate the origin of these brooches and thereby a regional system of exchange and exogamy.
Martens, Jes (2021). Vejene i Borremose - Danmarks ældste vejsystem. Vejhistorie. ISSN 1600-776X. p. 3–14. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Præsentation af de brolagte vejsystemer på den befæstede boplads i Borremose, Nordjylland. Vejenes lay out diskuteres i forhold til tidens transport. Videre diskuteres den ulige adgang til vejene fra de forskellige dele af bebyggelsen i den befæstede bebyggelse, og hvad det kan betyde for tolkningen af det interne hierarki på pladsen.
Martens, Jes (2021). Chronologie und Klima. In Sava, Eugen; Iarmulschi, Vasile; Zanoci, Aurel; Băţ, Mihail & Munteanu, Octavian (Ed.), DIE CHRONOLOGIE DER VORRÖMISCHEN EISEN- UND FRÜHEN KAISERZEIT IN MITTEL- UND SÜDOSTEUROPA:PROBLEME UND PERSPEKTIVEN. Casa Editorial-Poligrafică. ISSN 9789975877954. p. 63–72. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Chronologie stellt Objekte und Befunde in einen Kontext. Um eine archäologische Chronologie aufzubauen,benötigt man Veränderungen: Veränderungen in Form, Stil und Technik, in der Auswahl von Typen usw. Im Falle von auf einanderfolgenden folgenden Veränderungen, ist eine relative Chronologie einfach zu erstellen. Erheblich erschwert ist dies jedoch beigleichzeitig erfolgten Veränderungen. Von einem chronologischen Standpunkt aus betrachtet, ist es dann schwerer, für Kontinuität zu argumentieren. Aus der Interpretationsperspektive könnte man versucht sein, von Brüchen zu sprechen und dramatische Erklärungen anzubieten. Genau das trifft auf die vorrömische Eisenzeit im nördlichen Mitteleuropa zu. Schrittweise Veränderungenwerden üblicherweise als Anzeichen einer erfolgreichen und blühenden Gesellschaft gewertet, während unvermittelte Änderungen mit Krisen, Brüchen oder gar einem Bevölkerungswechsel assoziiert werden. Aber ist das Verhältnis zwischen Chronologie und Geschichte so einfach? Dieser Beitrag konzentriert sich vor dem Hintergrund aktuell publizierter hochaufgelöster Klimadaten auf den Übergang von der frühen zur späten vorrömischen Eisenzeit.
Martens, Jes (2020). Livestock and Landscape in Pre-Roman Iron Age Scandinavia. In Luckiewicz, Piotr (Eds.), Landschaft und Siedlungen. Archäologische Studien zur vorrömischen Eisenzeit und älteren Kaiserzeit im Mittel- und Südost Europa. Wydawnictwo UMCS. ISSN 9788322793565. p. 46–67. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
During the Late Bronze Age and Early Pre-Roman Iron Age the landscape of Northwestern Europe underwent great changes. The landscape was opened up and to a large extent parceled into extensive systems of fields, the hitherto scattered settlements were nucleated into village-like structures, and large linear structures that cut through the landscape appear to mark borders between territories. This process is particularly visible in Jutland, but does it apply to the rest of Denmark and Scandinavia? This is the subject of this paper. Keywords: Pre-Roman Iron Age, House constructions, Settlement structures, Landscape organization, Land use, Husbandry, Social organizations, Regional organization, Cattle raids
Martens, Jes (2019). From ultima thule to the hellespont - some remarks on the bone points of the Iron age. PLURAL - Journal of the History and Geography Department, 'Ion Creanga', Pedagogical State University. ISSN 2345-1262. 7(2), p. 43–52. doi: 10.37710/PLURAL.V7I2_3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Taking the outset in two finds of bone points in Norway, the distribution and use of the artefact type is discussed. Points of bone and antler are frequently found at settlements and in wetlands in Northern Europe. However, the exact distribution of the artefact type is hard to determine because its modest design makes it easy to overlook. This is also the reason why it is usually looked upon as a sign of poverty and as second rate. It seems the artefact type had more than one area of use; as a tool, as an implement for fishing and hunting, and as a combat weapon. Concerning the latter, it is argued that the points of bone and antler were valued and efficient weapons that more likely served as spears rather than javelins. This is confirmed by ancient written sources.
Martens, Jes (2018). When it comes to the point... On the wooden double pointed spikes from Borremose. In Niezabitowska-Wisniewska, Barbara; Luczkiewicz, Piotr; Sadowski, Sylwester; Stasiak-Cyran, Marta & Erdrich, Michael (Ed.), Studia Barbarica profesorowi Andrzejowi Kokowskiemu w 65. rocznice urodzin. UMCS. ISSN 9788378250432. p. 482–491. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
For many years double-pointed wooden sticks were unique to the Pre-Roman Iron Age (4th-2nd Cent. BC) fortified settlement in Borremose, North Jutland, but since 1998 the have turned up at three new sites, two in west Jutland and one in Scania. While they were not found in situ at the locus classicus and therefore were hard to interpret this was not the case at the two West Jutland sites. At these sites identical poinst were sunk into the ground as caltraps around fortified settlements and it is therefore logical to expect that the same was the case at Borremose. However, since none were found in situ, they could not have been applied in exactly the same way, and therefore the author suggests that they must have been sunk into the outer side of the earthern banks. Since they are now known from several sites from a wider area one would expect it was a more commonly known artefact than previously known.
Martens, Jes (2017). Settlement Archaeology in Southern Scandinavia. Preconditions and Prospecting Methods. Plural. V(2), p. 183–198. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Iron Age (500 BC-1000AD) settlements have been excavated in large numbers in Denmark and Scandinavia, and not only the houses but the layout of the farms and villages are well illuminated themes. Since this is not the case everywhere in Europe, this paper focuses on the important first step in order to get to grips with this problem; the archaeological prospecting. There are a number of methods at hand and they work best in combination. While prospecting, the archaeologist has to work in a source critical manner in order not simply to reproduce already known facts.
Martens, Jes (2017). Continuity or Rupture? Some remarks on the transition from the Early to the Late Pre-Roman Iron Age in Northern Central Europe. In Michalowski, Andrzej; Teska, Milena; Niedzielski, Przemyslaw & Zólkiewski, Marek (Ed.), Settlement Pottery of the Pre-Roman Iron Agein Central European Barbaricum - new research perspectives.. Biblioteka Telgte. ISSN 9788361845256. p. 31–39. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
While the development from the Late Bronze Age to the Late Pre-Roman Iron Age is generally undestood as unbroken and continuous in North Western Central Europe this is not the case in Northeastern Central Europe. The aim of this paper is to explore why the period is conceived so differently in the two adjacent areas.
Martens, Jes (2017). Settlement Pottery of the Kraghede Group. Ceramika osadowa grupy Kraghede. Eisenzeitliche Siedlungskeramik der Przeworsk-Kultur. Ceramika osadowa kultury przeworskiej z mlodszego okresu przedrzymskiego.. Edition Topoi. ISSN 9783981836912. p. 153–198. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Pløyejord som kontekst. Metallsøking, forskning og forvaltning. In Martens, Jes & Ravn, Mads (Ed.), Pløyejord som kontekst. Nye utfordringer for forskning, forvaltning og formidling. Portal forlag. ISSN 9788283140736. p. 13–22. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Norsk arkeologi har for lenge inntatt en avventende holdning i forhold til privat metallsøking. Man har også vært for rask til å frede funnsteder med henvisning til at in situ-bevaring er den foretrukne bevaringsform, på tross av at forskning viser at gjenstander i pløyelag utsettes for aksellerert nedbryting. De senere år er funnstrømmen imidlertid økt dramatisk og det er på tide ikke bare å ta grep men også innse at dette materiale har et stort vitenskapelig potensial som best kan utnyttes dersom man går i samarbeid med de private metallsøkere. Den norske lovgivningen tillater som i Danmark privat metallsøk, men kulturminnevernets organisering er annerledes og byr på fler utfordringer. Skal man derfor nå tilsvarende resultater som i vårt naboland krever det et tett samarbeid og en felles forståelse mellom museer og fylkeskommunale kulturminneverns-instanser. Får man det til vil samarbeidet med de private aktørene kunne bidra til en tettere oppfølgning av tilstanden på kulturminner i dyrket mark i tillegg til oppdagelse av nye lokaliteter og fordypet kunnskap om datering og karakter av eksisterende lokaliteter.
Martens, Jes (2014). Jastorf and Jutland. In Brandt, Jochen & Rauchfuss, Björn (Ed.), Das Jastorf-Konzept und die vorrömische Eisenzeit im Nördlichen Mitteleuropa. Veröffentlichung des Helmsmuseums, Archäologisches Museum Hamburg. ISSN 9783931429232. p. 245–266. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Since Gustaf Schwantes in 1911 included Jutland in the territory of the Jastorf culture this has been taken as a fact within German archaeology, while Danish archaeology on the other hand never accepted it. When Schwantes later revised his opinion on Jutlands status this was not adopted by the German archaeology. In Danish archaeology this topic was never discussed at length – a fact which may be due to political reasons (the issue of Slesvig) as well as research tradition. However, several researchers agree that the local group of south Jutland is closely related to the Jastorf culture, while the Jastorf influence is gradually diminishing with the increasing distance to the river Eider. A review of the material record of the North Jutland local group leads to the conclusion that if it were included in the Jastorf culture, the effect would be that this notion was deprived of any meaning.

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Martens, Jes & Ravn, Mads (2016). Pløyejord som kontekst. Nye utfordringer for forskning, forvaltning og formidling. Portal forlag. ISBN 9788283140736. 150 p. Full text in Research Archive

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Mjærum, Axel; Martens, Jes; Iversen, Frode; Eriksen, Marianne Hem; Gjerpe, Lars Erik & Tsigaridas, Ann Zanette Glørstad [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2026). Excavated Agrarian Building Sites in South-Eastern Norway, c. 2350 BC–AD 1536 (Investigations 1917–2023). doi: 10.18710/BB725X. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The dataset provides an overview of sites in south-eastern Norway where identifiable remains of buildings associated with agrarian settlements, dated to c. 2350 BC–AD 1536, have been excavated. The sites were investigated between 1917 and 2023. The dataset has been compiled in connection with the preparation for the publication “Hus og gård gjennom fire tusen år: Faglig program for undersøkelser av bosetnings- og landbruksspor fra senneolitikum til middelalder ved Kulturhistorisk museum”, Cappelen Damm Akademisk, 2026.
Martens, Jes (2025). Sem - a kingly manor from the 3rd Century AD in South-Eastern Norway. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
En presentasjon av det store hus på Sem og dets kontekst - en metallrik boplass med lang kontinuitet og strategisk beliggenhet.
Martens, Jes (2025). The Cimbri migration - a new solution to an old puzzle? Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Presentasjon av en alternativ datering og rute for kimbrernes vandring gjennom Europa. Hittil har den historisk kjente utvandringen ikke kunnet belegges med arkeologiske funn. Derfor foreslår forfatteren at man bør overveie om forutsetningene er feil. Dateringen av tidspunktet for utvandringen (120 f.v.t.) er eksempelvis et skjøn, det samme gjeller vandreruten frem til kimbrernes møte med romerne ved Noreia 113 f.v.t. Disse teorier kan ikke belegges arkeolgisk. Derimot er det tydelige tegn på at det har skjedd en større utvandring fra kimbrernes hjemland omkring 250 f.v.t. og ad en annen rute enn den, som hittil har vært vedtatt. Det er på tide å revurdere historien om kimbrernes vandring, og innse at det har vært en betydlig lengre prosess som berørte betydelig større deler av Europa enn hittil antatt. En slik revisjon vil ikke bare bringe teorien bedre i overenstemmelse med arkeologien men også de historiske kilder.
Martens, Jes & Gulliksen, Øivind (2025). Kongehuset på Sem - hvordan oppdagelsen nådde ut i verden. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Presentasjon av publiseringsstrategien bak lanseringen av nyheten om alderen på det store hus på Sem.
Martens, Jes (2025). Det store hus på Sem - jakten på fortsettelsen. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Presentasjon av resultatet av prøvegravingen på vestsiden av Semveien, hvor det formodes at det store hus fortsetter. Prøvegravingen skjedde i regi av Buskerud fylkeskommune, men som et samarbeid med KHM. Området viste seg å være sterkt forstyrret, men det fremkom likevel noen strukturer som kan ha relasjon til huset.
Martens, Jes (2025). Er dette Nordens eldste kongesete? [Internet]. Buskerud fylkeskommune. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
På den metallrike funnplassen på Sem i Øvre Eiker ble det i 2023 undersøkt et uvanlig stort langhus. Ut fra konstruksjon og størrelse ble det antatt at huset måtte være en del av Kongens hus på Sem, altså fra 1600-tallet. Nå har 14C-dateringer imidlertid vist at dette gigantbygget var mer enn tusen år eldre. Da har dette bygget virkelig vært et signalbygg som har vært en konge verdig.
Martens, Jes; Jensen, Xenia Pauli & Grane, Thomas (2025). Kæmpe hus fra jernalderen fundet i Norge: Var det herfra, man forsøgte at erobre Jylland? [Internet]. videnskab.dk. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes; Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen & Finnebråten, Charlotte Nueva (2025). Giganthallen i Norge. SKALK. ISSN 0560-1894. p. 4–9. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Sem - a kingly manor from the 3rd Century AD. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes; Hansen, Steffen Alexander & Ødegård, Daniel Iliev (2025). Kongernes huse – 1500 års nordisk historie på en norsk ager. Fund&Fortid. ISSN 1902-4959. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Nordens største bygg på 200-talet stod truleg her. [Internet]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Det var store forventningar til utgravingane på Sem i Øvre Eiker sommaren 2023. Arkeologane fant eit langhus med heilt uvanleg store proporsjonar. Det store huset blei oppført på 200-talet. Det kan ha vore ein konge verdig.
Martens, Jes (2025). Nordens største bygg på 200-tallet sto trolig i Norge. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Det var store forventninger til utgravningene på Sem i Øvre Eiker sommeren 2023, og arkeologene ble ikke skuffet. De fant et langhus med helt uvanlig store proporsjoner. Da de første dateringer kom trodde arkeologene ikke sine egne øyne og måtte dobbelsjekke, men svaret var klart: Det store huset ble virkelig oppført på 200-tallet. Et slik signalbygg må ha vært en konge verdig.
Martens, Jes (2025). Jes (63) gravde fram 1800 år gammelt hus. [Journal]. By Drammen. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Spangen, Marte (2025). Politikere reagerer på forslag om metallsøking - Bør være lov. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Det store hus på Sem. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Spangen, Marte (2025). Full forvirring: Blir metallsøking forbudt? [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Ringen fra Snarodden. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Var den første konge i Norge fra Hokksund? [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Arkæologer i Norge finder enormt hus fra 200-tallet. [Journal]. Kristelig Dagblad. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Da Frank skulle drenere jorden sin, dukket unikt langhus fra før vikingtid opp. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Aannestad, Hanne Lovise (2025). Fortidens skatter forsvinner inn i museenes kjellere. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Funnet på Sem tok arkeologene på sengen - Det er umulig, tenkte vi. [Journal]. Drammens Tidende. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2025). Det gamle øg fra Hjortspring. Fund&Fortid. ISSN 1902-4959. p. 13–22. Full text in Research Archive
Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen; Martens, Jes & Brunskill, Amy (2024). Rediscovering a forgotten power centre. [Journal]. Current World Archaeology. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2024). Førromersk fynbo til fjelds. Fund&Fortid. ISSN 1902-4959. 2024(3), p. 4–10. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
En ung gymnasieelev på fjeldtur fandt ved et tilfælde et unikt enægget sværd, som det skulle vise sig gemte på en helt særlig historie. Det vidner om et raid af norske krigere på den danske ø Fyn i midten af førromersk jernalder altså omkring 250 før vor tidsregning.
Martens, Jes (2024). Identities on the run. On the pre-Roman Iron Age pins of Jutland type found abroad. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
During the fourth and third century BC there are strong indications of people moving from the north-western corner of Northern Central Europe across Poland towards the Black Sea. The paper deals with the interpretation of this phenomenon and suggest that the written sources must be reinterpreted in order to understand what was going on.
Martens, Jes (2023). Utgravningen på Sem i Øvre Eiker - bakgrunn og perspektiver. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2023). Sommerens utgravning på Sem i Øvre Eiker Hva gjør vi med kulturminnene fra renessansen? Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2023). The warriors from Hjortspring. The composition and origin of a Northern European amphibian armed group of the fourth century BC. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2023). Sommerens utgravning på Sem i Øvre Eiker. En sentralplass med røtter tilbake til yngre bronsealder og kulminasjon/avslutning i renessansen. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Presentasjon av bakgrunnen for og potensialet til den kommende utgravning av et jorde på Sem i Øvre Eiker.
Martens, Jes (2023). Sikkerhet og forsikring ved utlån. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2023). Utstillingsrådets publikumsundersøkelse 2023: KHM som landsdelsmuseum. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2023). KHM's utlånsvirksomhet - en viktig samfunnsoppgave. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Presentasjon av omfanget, organiseringen og karakteren av utlånsarbeidet ved Kulturhistorisk museum, samt dets strategiske betydning for museets omdømme i offentligheten.
Martens, Jes & Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen (2023). Griseflaks under utgravinga på Sem: - Heilt usedvanleg funn! [Internet]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen (2023). Fant mynter fra vikingtid på jordet: Sykt spennende. [Internet]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2023). Oppsiktsvekkende funn: her ligger et ukjent norsk maktsenter. [Internet]. Eikernytt.no. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen (2023). Gjenoppdaget historisk maktsenter: Arkeologene kan ha funnet et 40 meter langt viking-hus. [Internet]. forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen & Martens, Jes (2023). Archaeologists may have found a Viking house the length of almost two tennis courts. [Internet]. Science Nordic. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2022). Krigerne fra Hjortspring - tid og baggrund. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2022). The Cimbri - seen in an archaeological context. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Zilmer, Kristel (2022). Rundschild. In Skiba, Violas; Jaspert, Nikolas; Schneidmüller, Bernd & Rosendahl, Wilfried (Ed.), Die Normannen. Eine Geschichte von Mobilität, Eroberung und Innovation.. Verlag Schnell + Steiner GmbH. ISSN 9783795436711. p. 41–42. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2022). Trinkhorn. In Skiba, Violas; Jaspert, Nikolas; Schneidmüller, Bernd & Rosendahl, Wilfried (Ed.), Die Normannen. Eine Geschichte von Mobilität, Eroberung und Innovation.. Verlag Schnell + Steiner GmbH. ISSN 9783795436711. p. 42–42. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2022). The 2nd Century BC in Northern Central Europe - signs of disruption and mobility. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
A discussion of the possibilities to detect a historically known short-termed disruption in the archaeological record of North-Western Central Europe.
Martens, Jes (2022). KHM's utlånsvirksomhet - en viktig samfunnsoppgave. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2022). Ringen fra Store Sandungen. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2022). The Second Century BC in the southwestern Baltic region. Signs of Disruption and Mobility. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2021). The 2nd Century BC in Jutland, South Scandinavia and North Germany. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The chronology of the 2nd century in the region is discussed demonstrating the difficulties in relation the relatively dated archaeological material to historical events with a known absolute date. Further more the reliability of the archaeological record is discussed, and it is demonstrated that absence of certain types of finds in a certain area does not automatically indicate absence of activities or settlement. The second part of the paper deals with the nature of the contact between the so-called "Celtic" and "Germanic" zones of Europe during the Pre-Roman Iron Age, and it is argued that though the two parts were aware of each other and their cultural and technological achievements their cultural and technological impact on each other was surprisingly limited.
Martens, Jes (2021). SCIENCE - THE VIKINGS SAILED WITH CATS. [Internet]. Catshoponwheels. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2020). A glimps into the world of the Vikings. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2020). En introduksjon til DIME (Digitale Metalsøgerfund) - en brukerstyrt portal for amatørarkeologer. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Rindel, Per Ole (2019). Settlement and Landscape in Jutland during the Early Iron Age. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2019). 14-C datering af forhistoriske huse. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2019). Regionality? Local Groups? Culture Groups? Full text in Research Archive Show summary
In Danish and Southern Scandinavian Iron Age archaeology the use of archaeological "cultures" is nearly absent. This is in stark contrast to the situation in the other countries neighboring the Baltic. In stead Scandinavain archaeology uses terms as "regions" and "local groups" in order to signify geographical cultural variations. Highlighting these differences this paper examins whether this is a product of different research traditions or factual differences in the archaeological records of the different areas.
Martens, Jes (2019). Some remarks on late derivates of brooches of Kostrzewski's type K in Scandinavia. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Taking the outset in a recently found bronze brooch from the metal detecting site at Sem/Berg in Øvre Eiker, Buskerud in Southern Norway the presentation aims at highlighting a certain regional type of brooches presumably produced in Central Sweden and distributed to Southern Norway in the decades around the beginning of the Christian Era. It is argued that the distribution reflects marital alliences and therefore provides an understandable background for the regional conflicts of Southern Scandianvia which dominated the following period.
Martens, Jes (2018). The 3rd and 3th Century BC - a Pan-European turning point? Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2018). The 3rd Century BC - a European turning point? Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2018). Metallsøking og georadar. En sentralplass fra folkevandringstid-middelalder på Sem i Øvre Eiker, Buskerud. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2017). Landscape archaeology in Scandinavia. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2017). Parallel Lives? On the apparent similarities in the Pre-Roman Iron Age pottery from Central Poland and Jutland. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2017). The Ancient Egyptian and Medieval Viking Propensity for Petting Cats. [Internet]. Realm of History. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2017). Trade and exchange in the Pre-Roman Iron Age in Northern Central Europe. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The network 'Regional and transregional interaction between the Baltic and the Mediterranean spheres in the first Millennium BC' was established during a workshop in Kiel in 2015. At this workshop the participants agreed on a series of workshops. The fourth workshop in the series dealt with economy, production, trade and far distance connections in the Pre-Roman Iron Age in Northern Central Europe. Four talks presented the topics and relevant aspects in parts of the region. The discussion focused on what kind of production was at hand and what kind of exchange would be relevant to consider in this context within the region and with areas outside it.
Martens, Jes; Martens, Vibeke Vandrup & Tafjord, Bernt-Egil (2016). Fant 1000 år gammel skatt i gjørma. [Journal]. Bygdeposten. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Interview om metallsøk på Sem gård i Øvre Eiker, Buskerud
Martens, Jes (2016). Pløyejord som kontekst. Forord. In Martens, Jes & Ravn, Mads (Ed.), Pløyejord som kontekst. Nye utfordringer for forskning, forvaltning og formidling. Portal forlag. ISSN 9788283140736. p. 5–7. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Tafjord, Bernt-Egil (2016). Her var det gull, slott og vikinger. [Journal]. Drammens Tidende. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Interview angående metallsøk på gården Sem i Øvre Eiker
Martens, Jes; Melheim, Anne Lene; Aannestad, Hanne Lovise & Martinsen, Julian Robert Post (2016). Metallsøking på Sem, Øvre Eiker. Norark.no. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Settlement Archaeology in Southern Scandinavia. Preconditions and Prospections Methods. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Førromersk jernalder i det nordlige Sentral-Europa. Den moldaviske forbindelse. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Vikingerne tog katte med på deres rejser. [Internet]. videnskab.dk. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Archaeological formation processes - preconditions for super regional comparative analysis. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The knowledge of the formation that shaped the archaeological record is of utmost importance when trying to make cultural comparisons between different regions. Differences in research traditions, methods, economy, organization of the heritage management, prestige of archaeology and relation to the local population, and even individuals may have caused that records have become practically incomparable.
Martens, Jes (2016). Ny forskning: Vikingene tok med katter. [Internet]. ABC/Nyheter. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Cats Conquered Ancient World, Let Vikings And Egyptians Take The Credit. [Internet]. New Visions. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Vikings took cats on their travels. [Internet]. CPHNews. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Vikings Really Loved Cats, and Other Historical Feline Facts. [Internet]. Fansided. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). Viking sailors took their cats with them. [Internet]. Science Nordic. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2016). New Evidence That Cats Sailed With Vikings. [Internet]. Popular Science. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2015). Vandalerne og Vendsyssel. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes & Maixner, Birgit (2014). Fant skjulte skatter fra fortiden. [Journal]. Moss Avis. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2014). Den mystiske førromerske jernalder. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2014). Klart for visning av nasjonalskatten. [Journal]. Trønder-Avisa. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2014). The social organization of the Pre-Roman Iron Age comunities in Northern Europe. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2014). Settlement Archaeology in Scandinavia. Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2014). "In Situ bevaring" i pløyelag? Full text in Research Archive
Martens, Jes (2013). Die Siedlungskeramik der Kraghede-Gruppe. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Sep. 11, 2012 2:24 PM - Last modified Apr. 8, 2022 2:35 PM

Research groups

Vorrömische Eisenzeit in nördlichen Mitteleuropa