Magnus Mathisen Haaland

Magnus Mathisen Haaland is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Archaeology at the University of Bergen's Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural and Religious Studies. He is affiliated with the Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE), funded by the Research Council of Norway (Project 262618). His research focuses on geoarchaeological methods, micromorphology, and Middle Stone Age technologies, particularly ochre use and site formation processes in Southern Africa.

His work integrates fieldwork in South Africa and Zimbabwe with laboratory analyses, including micro-FTIR, XRF, and photogrammetry. Haaland has contributed to excavations at Blombos Cave, Klipdrift Shelter, and Pomongwe Cave, exploring topics like ochre powder deposition, hearth maintenance, and digital site reconstruction. He also collaborates on experimental archaeology, documenting fire behaviors and material use.

Haaland's publications emphasize methodological innovation, bridging traditional and digital archaeological approaches. His research highlights human-environment interactions during key phases of prehistoric development. He actively engages with both academic and public audiences through lectures and media interviews.