Johan Ling

Johan Ling is a Professor and Director at the Department of Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg. He specializes in Bronze Age archaeology with a focus on metallurgical provenance studies, Scandinavian rock art interpretation, and maritime trade networks. His interdisciplinary work bridges archaeology, chemistry, and digital humanities.

Research Interests: Ling's work centers on the Bronze Age's socio-economic dynamics, including metal trade routes, rock art symbolism, and maritime seafaring. He pioneered large-scale copper alloy provenance studies in Scandinavia, analyzing over 400 artifacts. His recent projects include the 'Maritime Encounters' initiative exploring Atlantic migration and the Rock Art Research Archives (SHFA), digitizing 120,000 rock art records.

Key Projects: Leads the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond-funded 'Maritime Encounters' examining Atlantic mobility. Directs SHFA, which combines 3D documentation with AI-driven analysis. Collaborates with Chalmers and digital humanities centers on advanced rock art studies.

Advising & Grants: Principal investigator on major grants including EU and national funding. Oversees international teams in metallurgical and rock art research. Current collaborations span Scandinavia, Iberia, and the Mediterranean.

Labs/Teams: SHFA (Rock Art Research Archives), Maritime Encounters project teams, and multidisciplinary metallurgical research groups. Active in developing digital tools for archaeological analysis and preservation.