Antti Lahelma

Antti Lahelma is a Lecturer in Archaeology at the Department of Cultures, University of Helsinki, and a Docent (Reader-level academic qualification) in Archaeology. He serves as Vice-Director of the Academy of Finland-funded Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires (ANEE) and directs the University of Helsinki's MA Program in Cultural Heritage. His academic career spans European, North American, and Finnish archaeological traditions.

• University of Helsinki (MA 2001, PhD 2008)
• University of Tromsø (Supervision)
• University of Reading (Opponent in PhD defense)

Research focuses on:

• Ancient Near Eastern Empires (960 BC-0 AD)
• Prehistoric Rock Art (Finland/Northern Fennoscandia)
• Archaeology of Religion (Cosmology, Iconography)
• Conflict Archaeology (Violence, Warfare)
• Neolithization (Foraging to Farming Transition)
• Archaeoacoustics (Prehistoric Sound Significance)

Recent publications address megalithic structures in Jordan, runic inscription authenticity, and theoretical approaches to civilization studies. He maintains active fieldwork in Petra and Herculaneum, with postdoctoral experience at Université du Québec à Montréal (2010-2013). As Editor-in-Chief of Fennoscandia Archaeologica, he shapes North European archaeological discourse.

• Kalevalaseuran Young Researcher's Recognition (2008)
• Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence funding (2018-2025)
• Research Council of Finland grants (Team 3: Material Culture & Community Heritage)

Teaching portfolio includes:

• Finnish/European/North American Prehistory
• Artifacts Analysis
• Archaeological Theory
• Research Seminars for BA/MA students

Current projects involve satellite imagery analysis of Jordanian megaliths, Mesolithic European rock art studies, and collaborative research on hunter-gatherer mindscapes.