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Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies

Dr. Stefan Bergh


 
researcher
 

Biography

My main role within the Discipline of Archaeology is as Programme Director of the MA in Landscape Archaeology which I developed and has been running since my appointment at NUIG in 2000.  

I am a graduate of The University of Stockholm from which I received my Ph.D. in 1995. I first came to Ireland in 1978 as a student working on the excavations of the passage tombs at Carrowmore, Co. Sligo. My postgraduate research was focused on the Neolithic landscape of Cúil Irra, Co. Sligo, involving field walking programmes and excavations. My PhD thesis, Landscape of the Monuments was published in 1995. Between 1990 and 1998 I was employed by the Bureau of Archaeological Excavations, National Heritage Board, Sweden, first as an archaeologist and later as Senior Archaeologist working with the development of methodologies within development led archaeology. .

In 1998 I received a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship from the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Education (STINT). This research, The Knocknarea Archaeological Project, brought me full time to Ireland and focused on Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo.  

In 2009 I received a Research Fellowship from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. The project for which the fellowship was awarded, Knocknarea – the archaeology of a mountain, focused on the role and meaning of mountains and upland space in the Neolithic.

My main interest is in Landscape Archaeology in all its disguises, with an emphasis on the interaction between people and their natural environment in prehistory. I am especially interested in the relation between ‘ritual’/‘domestic’ roles of conspicuous places.  

Member of UNISCAPE
Representing NUIG at The Standing Committee of Archaeology, Royal Irish Academy
Member of the GIS Centre Committee at NUIG

Research Interests

My main research interest is focused on the interaction between people, place and landscapes in prehistory. My research has primarily been concerned with the Neolithic of Ireland, and especially with the role uplands and mountains have played in people's physical as well as mental landscapes. I have initiated several research projects addressing these aspects, focusing mainly on issues relating to domestic and ritual aspects of uplands and mountains. My main project, pursued over the course of a number of years, has been a study of the archaeology of Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo, which has involved large scale surveys as well as targeted excavations of a Neolithic enclosure, Neolithic houses and lithic scatters, passage tombs as well as Neolithic quarrying sites. This project has been funded by the Royal Irish Academy, the HEA and the Heritage Council.

Another central research project involves a study of the large cluster of enclosures and circular house sites at Mullaghfarna, within the Carrowkeel-Keashcorran passage tomb complex in Co. Sligo. The first detailed survey of this, the largest cluster of prehistoric house foundations in Ireland, has just been completed (2015) and is prepared for publication in 2016. This project has been funded by the Heritage Council and the Royal Irish Academy.

A third research projects, linked to the two previous ones is a study of the ritual and domestic remains on Turlough Hill, in the Burren Co. Clare with its large cluster of houses, enclosures and cairns. Trial excavations financed by the Royal Irish Academy in two of the houses on Turlough Hill in 2016 (conducted by Ros OMouldain), will for the first time hopefully give some indications of the date of the activity on this extraordinary summit. This project is funded by INSTAR and the Royal Irish Academy.
 
Linked to my interest in the interaction between people, place and landscapes, I have a longstanding interest in prehistoric ritual monuments and their physical as well as mental role in the construction of place.
A recent project, Unpicking the Chronology of Carrowmore - together with Dr. Robert Hensey, focused on the chronology of the passage tombs at Carrowmore, Co. Sligo and involved 25 new AMS dates from this group of monuments. This project was funded by the NUI Galway Millennium Fund and the Heritage Council.

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
NEGOTIATING THE LANDSCAPE STEFAN BERGH 01-OCT-14 30-SEP-16
IRCHSS STEFAN BERGH KNOCKNAREA THE ARCHAEOLOGY 01-SEP-09 30-SEP-13
MF07-P16 AMS DATING OF BONE PINS-S.BERGH 01-DEC-07 19-JUN-09
DEPT OF ENVIRON KNOCKNAREA PROJ S BERGH 12-APR-04 31-DEC-13
HERITAGE COUNCIL MULLAGHFARNA S BERGH 12-APR-04 07-JUL-05
IRCHSS HEA 03 04 SRG S BERGH 12-APR-04 24-AUG-09

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'The date and context of the circular structures on Turlough Hill, Co. Clare'
OMaolduin, R., McCarthy, N., Bergh, S (2021) 'The date and context of the circular structures on Turlough Hill, Co. Clare'. The Journal of Irish Archaeology, XXX :49-65 [Details]
(2015) 'Where Worlds Meet. Two Irish prehistoric mountain-top ‘villages’'
Stefan Bergh (2015) 'Where Worlds Meet. Two Irish prehistoric mountain-top ‘villages’'. Il Capitale Culturale: studies on the value of cultural heritage, 12 :21-44 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2013) 'Unpicking the Chronology of Carrowmore'
Bergh, S. & Hensey, R. (2013) 'Unpicking the Chronology of Carrowmore'. Oxford Journal Of Archaeology, 32 (4):343-366 [Details]
(1988) 'De första arkitekterna'
Bergh,S. (1988) 'De första arkitekterna'. Irland: Den Gåtfulla Ön Statens Historiska Museum, :23-29 [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2021) A Baseline Study of the Passage Tombs of County Sligo 2021.
Bergh, S, Fiona Gallagher, Robert Hensey, Padraig Meehan (2021) A Baseline Study of the Passage Tombs of County Sligo 2021. Sligo: Sligo Neolithic Landscapes. [Details]
(1995) Landscape of the monuments A study of the passage tombs in the Cúil Irra region, Co Sligo, Ireland Stockholm: Riksantikvarieämbetet Arkeologiska Undersökningar.
Bergh,S. (1995) Landscape of the monuments A study of the passage tombs in the Cúil Irra region, Co Sligo, Ireland Stockholm: Riksantikvarieämbetet Arkeologiska Undersökningar. Stockholm: Riksantikvarieämbetet. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2013) 'The Inns at Sligo are better than those at Auray....and the scenery far more beautiful - Carrowmore re-visited'
Hensey R. & Bergh S. (2013) 'The Inns at Sligo are better than those at Auray....and the scenery far more beautiful - Carrowmore re-visited' In: Dedicted to Sligo. Thirty-four Essays on Sligo's Past. :41-43 Ballymote: Publishing Slig's Past. [Details]
(2017) 'Monumentality, Liminality and the Negotionation of Ritual Space in the Irish Passage Tomb Tradition'
McCormack, L. & Bergh, S. (2017) 'Monumentality, Liminality and the Negotionation of Ritual Space in the Irish Passage Tomb Tradition' In: Megaliths, Society and Landscapes. Early Monumentality and social differentiation in Neolihthic Europe. Kiel: Kiel Unversity. [Details]
(2016) 'Modelling Routeways in a Landscape of Esker and Bog'
O'Brien, Y. & Bergh, S. (2016) 'Modelling Routeways in a Landscape of Esker and Bog' In: Simulating Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds. :199-218 Switzerland: Springer Verlag. [Details]
(1984) 'The Hut Sites at Knocknarea South, Co. Sligo'
Bengtsson, H. & Bergh, S. (1984) 'The Hut Sites at Knocknarea South, Co. Sligo' In: The Archaeology of Carrowmore: Environmental Archaeeology and the Megalithic Tradition at Carrowmore. :216-318 Stockholm: University of Stockholm. [Details]
(2010) 'Black is the Colour Chert, Concave Scrapers and Passage Tombs'
Bergh,S. (2010) 'Black is the Colour Chert, Concave Scrapers and Passage Tombs' In: Materialitas Working Stone, Carving Identity Prehistoric Society Research Papers 3 Oxford: The Prehistoric Society and Oxbow Books. :105-112 [Details]
(2003) 'Two stones make a line'
Bergh,S. (2003) 'Two stones make a line' In: Lost and Found Discovering Ireland's Past Bray: Wordwell. :51-64 [Details]
(2002) 'Monuments of meaning Role and symbolism of passage tombs in Cúil Irra, Co Sligo'
Stefan Bergh (2002) 'Monuments of meaning Role and symbolism of passage tombs in Cúil Irra, Co Sligo' In: A celebration of Sligo, first essays for Sligo Field Club. :65-72 Sligo: TASK. [Details]
(2002) 'Knocknarea- the ultimate monument Megaliths and mountains in Neolithic Cúil Irra, north west Ireland'
Bergh,S. (2002) 'Knocknarea- the ultimate monument Megaliths and mountains in Neolithic Cúil Irra, north west Ireland' In: Monuments and Landscape in Atlantic Europe London: Routledge. :139-151 London: [Details]
(1988) 'De första arkitekterna'
Bergh, S. (1988) 'De första arkitekterna' In: Irland: Den gåtfulla ön. :26-39 Stockholm: Statens Historiska Museum. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2006) WAC 2008 Sixth World Archaeological Congress
Stefan Bergh (2006) Abstract: Transforming a Mountain into a monument. Identity and Place in hte Irish Neolithic WAC 2008 Sixth World Archaeological Congress [Details]
(1997) O Neolitico Atlantico e as Orixe do Megalitismo
Stefan Bergh (1997) Design as message. Role and Symbolism of Irish Passage tombs . In: Anton Rodriguez Casal eds. O Neolitico Atlantico e as Orixe do Megalitismo , pp.141-150 [Details]
(2016) Landscape Archaeology Conference, LAC2014
Stefan Bergh (2016) Turlough Hill - Place making and Mountains in Prehistoric Ireland Landscape Archaeology Conference, LAC2014 [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(1991) Marsta 3:1, Sorunda socken, Södermanland: Arkeologisk utredning.
Stefan Bergh (1991) Marsta 3:1, Sorunda socken, Södermanland: Arkeologisk utredning. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1992) Säby Gård: Hagby 1:3 mfl. Österåkers socken, Uppland: Arkeologisk utredning.
Stefan Bergh (1992) Säby Gård: Hagby 1:3 mfl. Österåkers socken, Uppland: Arkeologisk utredning. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1992) Tjusta golfbana. Skånela socken, Sigtuna kommun, Uppland: Arkeologisk utredning.
Stefan Bergh (1992) Tjusta golfbana. Skånela socken, Sigtuna kommun, Uppland: Arkeologisk utredning. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1993) Malmakvarn: Malmakvarn 1:1 mfl. LIlla Malma socken, Södermanland: Arkeologisk förundersökning.
Stefan Bergh (1993) Malmakvarn: Malmakvarn 1:1 mfl. LIlla Malma socken, Södermanland: Arkeologisk förundersökning. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1994) Mosåsboplatsen; Mosjö socken, Närke. RAÄ 45: Arkeologisk förundersökning.
Stefan Bergh (1994) Mosåsboplatsen; Mosjö socken, Närke. RAÄ 45: Arkeologisk förundersökning. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1999) Gropkeramisk boplats vid Återvall, Ingarö socken, Värmdö kommun Uppland: Arkeologisk utredning.
Stefan Bergh (1999) Gropkeramisk boplats vid Återvall, Ingarö socken, Värmdö kommun Uppland: Arkeologisk utredning. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1999) Lappdal: Lappdal 2:5 Österåkers socken, Österåkers kommun, Uppland. Arkeologisk utredning.
Stefan Bergh (1999) Lappdal: Lappdal 2:5 Österåkers socken, Österåkers kommun, Uppland. Arkeologisk utredning. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1991) Complementary excavations at Mogetorp, Katrineholm, Södermanlands län.
Stefan Bergh (1991) Complementary excavations at Mogetorp, Katrineholm, Södermanlands län. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1991) Evaluation survey, Mogetorp Mes/EN settlement site.
Stefan Bergh (1991) Evaluation survey, Mogetorp Mes/EN settlement site. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1991) Arkeologisk Förundersökning. Mogetorp, Kerstinboda, Södermanlands län.
Stefan Bergh (1991) Arkeologisk Förundersökning. Mogetorp, Kerstinboda, Södermanlands län. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]
(1999) Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo Complex of Neolithic banks. 1999:798.
Stefan Bergh (1999) Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo Complex of Neolithic banks. 1999:798. Wordwell, Bray. [Details]
(1999) Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo. Survey of prehistoric sites and stray finds. 1999:797.
Stefan Bergh (1999) Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo. Survey of prehistoric sites and stray finds. 1999:797. Wordwell, Bray. [Details]
(1999) Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo. Neolithic Hut sites and bank.1999:796.
Stefan Bergh (1999) Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo. Neolithic Hut sites and bank.1999:796. Wordwell, Bray. [Details]
(2003) The Mullaghfarna Enclosures, Mullaghfarna, Co. Sligo.
Stefan Bergh (2003) The Mullaghfarna Enclosures, Mullaghfarna, Co. Sligo. Wordwell, Bray. [Details]
(2008) Surveying Turlough Hill in BURREN LANDSCAPE AND SETTLEMENT. An INSTAR project.
Stefan Bergh (2008) Surveying Turlough Hill in BURREN LANDSCAPE AND SETTLEMENT. An INSTAR project. The Heritage Council, Ireland. [Details]
(1990) Tibble. Arkeologisk förundersökning 1990. UV Stockholm Rapprt 1993:33.
Bergh,S. & Segerberg, A. (1990) Tibble. Arkeologisk förundersökning 1990. UV Stockholm Rapprt 1993:33. Riksantikvarieämbetet, Stockholm. [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(1996) Till Gunborg. Arkeologiska samtal.
Åkerlund, A., Bergh, S., Nordblad, J. & Taffinder, J (Ed.). (1996) Till Gunborg. Arkeologiska samtal. Stockholm: Stockholm Archaeological Reports 33. Stockholm University. [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2022) 'Making Space - Creating Place: mountains, identity and domestic architecture in prehistoric Ireland'
Stefan Bergh (2022) 'Making Space - Creating Place: mountains, identity and domestic architecture in prehistoric Ireland' Building Material, 24 :171-186. [Details]
(2000) 'Transforming Knocknarea'
Stefan Bergh (2000) 'Transforming Knocknarea' Archaeology Ireland, 14 (2) :14-18. [Details]
(1982) 'Gravfältet vid Uddvide i Grötlingbo'
Bergh, S. (1982) 'Gravfältet vid Uddvide i Grötlingbo' Gotlänskt Arkiv, 1982 . [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2004) Megalithic Study Group First Meeting Gothenburg,
Stefan Bergh (2004) 'Ritual and Domestic space in the Irish Neolithic.' Meeting organised by Department of Archaeology, University of Gothenburg. [Invited Oral Presentation], Megalithic Study Group First Meeting Gothenburg, Gothenburg University , 01-MAY-04. [Details]
(2008) WAC 2008 Sixth World Archaeological Congress,
Stefan Bergh (2008) 'Mountains as islands of identity.' Paper presented at WAC 2008. [Oral Presentation], WAC 2008 Sixth World Archaeological Congress, University College Dublin , 30-JUN-08. [Details]
(2008) WAC 2008 Sixth World Archaeological Congress,
Stefan Bergh (2008) I was part of the National Working Committee for WAC 2008, undertaking various tasks in relation to the organisation of the congress. [Conference Organising Committee Member], WAC 2008 Sixth World Archaeological Congress, University College Dublin , 29-JUN-08. [Details]
(1999) Places that touch the sky - the archaeology of uplands and mountains,
Stefan Bergh (1999) 'Is Queen Meadhbha buried in the mountain? Knocknarea and the Neolithic of Cuil Irra, Co. Sligo'. Paper presented at Archaeology Ireland's yearly conference. [Oral Presentation], Places that touch the sky - the archaeology of uplands and mountains, Kilmainham, Dublin , 30-MAY-99. [Details]
(1995) EAA first annual meeting,
Stefan Bergh (1995) 'To be seen or not to be seen - that is the question. A regional study of monuments, visibility and landscape in Cuil Irra, Co. Sligo, Ireland. [Oral Presentation], EAA first annual meeting, Santiago de Compostella, Galicia, Spain , 05-SEP-95. [Details]
(1995) Interpreting, preserving and presenting ritual landscapes,
Stefan Bergh (1995) 'The interpretation and maintenance of ritual landscapes in Sweden'. Paper presented on this conference being The Prehistoric Society's 50th Conference. [Oral Presentation], Interpreting, preserving and presenting ritual landscapes, University College Dublin , 11-MAY-95. [Details]
(1986) Megalithic Archaeology,
Stefan Bergh (1986) 'Megaliths as visual markers'. Paper presented at this Scandinavian conference on megalithic traditions in Scandinavia and beyond. Organised by The Museum of Falköping and University of Gothenburg. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Megalithic Archaeology, Falköping, Sweden , 10-MAY-86. [Details]
(1983) Megaliths in Context,
Stefan Bergh (1983) 'The megalithic cemetery at Carrowmore, Ireland. Some aspects on Subsistence'. Paper presented at international conference hosted by Queen's University. [Oral Presentation], Megaliths in Context, Queens University, Belfast , 10-MAY-83. [Details]
(2010) Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes in North Mayo,
Bergh, S. (2010) Discussant's observations and recommendations. I was one of two invited discussants to the conference focusing on the INSTAR funded project to publish the last 30 years archaeology along the North Mayo coast. Conference co-organised by UCD and Heritage Council. [Invited Oral Presentation], Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes in North Mayo, Belderrig, Co. Mayo, Ireland , 01-OCT-10. [Details]
(2006) XV World Congress - Lisbon 2006,
Bergh, S. (2006) Tranforming a mountain into a monument. Identity and Place in the Irish Neolithic. [Oral Presentation], XV World Congress - Lisbon 2006, Lisbon , 03-OCT-06. [Details]
(2005) Air and Earth. Aerial Photography in Ireland,
Stefan Bergh (2005) 'Digital aerial survey of the prehistoric settlement at Mullaghfarna, Bricklieve Mountains, Co. Sligo.' Paper presented at this conference aimed at gathering current state of research based on aerial photography in Ireland. [Invited Oral Presentation], Air and Earth. Aerial Photography in Ireland, Dublin Castle, Dublin , 10-DEC-05. [Details]
(2013) The Archaeology of Gathering,
Stefan Bergh (2013) 'Meeting at the edge. Turlough Hill as a place of prehistoric assembly'. Paper presented at this international conference focusing on a wide range of 'gatherings', timely coinciding with 'The Year of the Gathering'. [Oral Presentation], The Archaeology of Gathering, Sligo IT, Ireland , 25-OCT-13. [Details]
(2005) The Beltany Heritage Conference,
Stefan Bergh (2005) 'The Prehistoric ritual landscape of Beltany and Kilmonaster - the wider context.' Paper presented at this National conference organised by Raphoe Community in Action Ltd., focusing on the archaeology of Raphoe and its hinterland. [Invited Oral Presentation], The Beltany Heritage Conference, Raphoe, Co. Donegal , 01-MAY-05. [Details]
(2015) House Societies in Neolithic Eurasia,
Stefan Bergh (2015) 'Dwelling in a Passage tomb landscape''' Paper presented at the Neolithic Studies Group annual conference, held in The British Museum. [Oral Presentation], House Societies in Neolithic Eurasia, British Museum, London , 02-NOV-15. [Details]

ANET/COS

  Year Publication
(2019) Landscapes, Identity and Movement.
Karum Creevagh Project (Michael Walsh) (2019) Landscapes, Identity and Movement. Kalmar, Sweden: Linneus University ANET/COS [Details]

Field Guide

  Year Publication
(2017) The Neolithic Archaeology of Cuil Irra, Co. Sligo.
Stefan Bergh (2017) The Neolithic Archaeology of Cuil Irra, Co. Sligo. Bray: Wordwell Field Guide [Details]

Report

  Year Publication
(2004) The Mullaghfarna Enclosures: a Survey. Heritage Council Report.
Stefan Bergh (2004) The Mullaghfarna Enclosures: a Survey. Heritage Council Report. Report [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2009 Government of Ireland Research Fellow IRCHSS Fellowships in the Humanities and Social Sciences
2000 Government of Ireland Research Fellow IRCHSS Fellowships in the Humanities and Social Sciences
1998 Post Doctoral Research Fellow Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Education

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Swedish Archaeological Society Member /
Institute of Archaeologists in Ireland (IAI) Member /
UNISCAPE Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
GIS Centre Committee, NUIG Member /
Standing Committee of Archaeology, Royal Irish Academy Member /

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Research (e.g. Community based research) Public Participation Network /
Consultancy (Pro-bono) Strandhill Development Association /