‘The most exciting of times.’ Reflections on the third science revolution and its impact on the future of archaeology 

Three years ago I presented my vision of the third science revolution and its impact on archaeology in the fields of Big Data, archaeological modelling, genetics, and not least in the interaction between archaeology and the public. In this presentation I wish to reflect on developments since then, not least the breakthrough of ancient DNA and its many new results which completely changes our understanding of prehistory. Finally, I shall discuss how the millions of personal DNA tests may affect and effect personal and cultural identities in the future.

Kristian Kristiansen is professor of Archaeology at the University of Gothenburg. His main research is on the Bronze Age but also on archaeological theory and archaeological heritage. In his books he has promoted a European perspective on the Bronze Age, whereas in his archaeological excavations he concentrated on local areas in Sicily, Hungary and Denmark/Sweden. During the last six years he has been leading an interdisciplinary project on mobility during the 3rd and 2nd millennium in western Eurasia combining aDNA, strontium and lead isotopes. He is now continuing this research in a new six year project also including Indo-European languages. Another recent project is the creation of a Research Institute for Rock Art, making primary documentation of rock art accessible to the public. Finally he is engaged in an interdisciplinary collaboration at University of Gothenburg, called The Heritage Academy, to promote research and teaching on cultural heritage. Recent publications, among many others, include Bronze Age Vikings? A Comparative Analysis of Deep Historical Structures and their Dynamics (2016) and Towards a New Paradigm? The Third Science Revolution and its Possible Consequences in Archaeology (2014), and most recently: Re-theorising mobility (2017 in Antiquity).