Marja Ahola

Marja Ahola is a researcher in archaeology at the Department of Cultures, University of Helsinki. Her work focuses on the materialization of immaterial aspects of life—such as religion, storytelling, and social relationships—in the archaeological record, particularly in the Mesolithic and Neolithic Stone Age of northeastern Europe. She specializes in analyzing museum collections and developing novel methodologies for understanding ritual practices and material culture.

• Institution: University of Helsinki
• Department: Department of Cultures

Research Interests: Ahola explores ritual practices, death and burial cultures, material culture, and identity in prehistoric societies. Her research emphasizes sensory and artistic approaches to understanding Mesolithic-Neolithic transitions, with a focus on the Baltic Sea region. She investigates how symbolic meanings are embedded in artifacts, graves, and landscapes.

Publications: Ahola has published extensively on topics including Corded Ware mortuary practices, flint assemblages, and symbolic interpretations of burials. Her recent work (2025–2024) examines wetland deposits, sensory landscapes, and the quantification of subjective archaeological analysis.

Scientific Awards: She was awarded a Docentship (Dosentuuri) in 2024 for her academic contributions.

• Projects: Principal Investigator for the 2021 project Peuransarveen tallennetut tarinat (Stories Recorded in Antler), exploring digital humanities and artistic research methods in Stone Age Finland.
• Media Visibility: Ahola has contributed to public discourse through 40 media appearances (2025–2022), discussing topics like Arctic graveyards, sacred consciousness, and Stone Age storytelling.
• Academic Activities: She has delivered invited presentations (e.g., 2025 Kivikausi), participated in editorial work, and consulted on prehistoric studies.