Bente Philippsen

About

I studied physics and archaeology in Heidelberg (Germany) and Aarhus (Denmark). After I finished my PhD in 2012, I have had several post doc and other short-term positions as physicist and/or archaeologist at research institutions and museums, centering around radiocarbon dating and other methods for scientific archaeology.

Research

I am the leader of the National Laboratory for Age Determination, where we develop and apply AMS radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology and stable isotope analyses.

My research focuses on radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analyses. I apply those methods to answer questions from archaeology, history and ecology.

Absolute dating methods such as radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology can put events, people and developments on the timeline of history, even though they might be invisible in written sources. With absolute dates, we can compare historical and events and developments with environemental changes to study causes and effects. We can compare the histories of different regions, even though they didn't have a tradition for historiography.

I combine radiocarbon and dendro-dates with contextual information in Bayesian age models to increase dating precision. The contextual information includes archaeological information such as site stratigraphy or artefact typology as well as historical dates or family relations reconstructed by aDNA analysis.

By studying the carbon cycle of the past, I try to unravel the complex relationships between humans, animals, and the environment. I work at enhancing our understanding of human-environment interactions, subsistence strategies, ancient dietary habits and cuisines.

For studies of the present carbon cycle, we use radiocarbon dating and d13C analysis to determine the proportions of fossil vs. biogenic carbon in various fuels, to monitor the effects of carbon capture in nature restoration or with technological methods, or to study the growth of plants and diet of animals.

Fishing in the prehistoric Syltholm fjord - a diachronic analysis (SylFish)

The project will investigate fishing in Syltholm Fjord over 5000 years from the Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. This is based on the rich material from the archaeological investigations that preceded the establishment of the Fehmarn connection.

Publications

Single-year radiocarbon dating anchors Viking Age trade cycles in time

We use a solar storm to anchor the archaeological stratigraphy of a Viking Age trade centre in time. Our methods enable human interactions and cultural, climatic and environmental changes to be compared in archaeological stratigraphies worldwide.

Holocene shorelevel changes, southern Lolland and the Femern Belt, Denmark

We propose a new sea level curve for southern Lolland and the Femern Belt based on 98 radiocarbon ages. There are no indications of a higher than present sea level and no indications of 1–2 m oscillations as reported from other parts of the region.

Reconsidering the Pitted Ware chronology: A temporal fixation of the Scandinavian Neolithic hunters, fishers and gatherers

The Pitted Ware culture presents a return to hunting, fishing and gathering after the introduction of farming. By analysing more than 900 radiocarbon dates, we explore where and how this phenomenon emerged and spread throughout Scandinavia.

Approaches to determine reservoir effects in elk/moose

Elks have been observed to consume large amounts of aquatic plants. But does this lead to reservoir effects in elk bones?

δ13C values of wood and charcoal reveal broad isotopic ranges at the base of the food web

Dietary reconstruction requires good knowledge of the baseline, i.e. the isotope values of the food. By analysing wood samples as a proxy for plant food, we demonstrate that a large variability of food isotope values has to be expected.

Eight New Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene AMS Dates from the Southeastern Baltic

Our study significantly adds to the still small number of existing absolutely dated artifacts from the region and proposes new ways of viewing the Final Palaeolithic and Early Mesolithic chronology in the southeastern Baltic.

2023

Klassen, Lutz; Rasmussen, Uffe; Kveiborg, Jakob; Richards, Michael; Orlando, Ludovic; Svenning, Jens-Christian. (2023) Ginnerup Revisited. New Excavations at a Key Neolithic Site on Djursland, Denmark. Journal of Neolithic Archaeology
Academic article
Philippsen, Bente. (2023) Changing diet in a changing world. Sidestone Press
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Philippsen, Bente. (2023) Dating the arrival of humans in the Americas: A debate about the age of ancient footprints continues. Science
Short communication
Lucquin, Alexandre; Robson, Harry K.; Oras, Ester; Lundy, Jasmine; Moretti, Giulia; González Carretero, Lara. (2023) The impact of farming on prehistoric culinary practices throughout Northern Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
Academic article

Journal publications

Klassen, Lutz; Rasmussen, Uffe; Kveiborg, Jakob; Richards, Michael; Orlando, Ludovic; Svenning, Jens-Christian. (2023) Ginnerup Revisited. New Excavations at a Key Neolithic Site on Djursland, Denmark. Journal of Neolithic Archaeology
Academic article
Philippsen, Bente. (2023) Dating the arrival of humans in the Americas: A debate about the age of ancient footprints continues. Science
Short communication
Lucquin, Alexandre; Robson, Harry K.; Oras, Ester; Lundy, Jasmine; Moretti, Giulia; González Carretero, Lara. (2023) The impact of farming on prehistoric culinary practices throughout Northern Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
Academic article

Part of book/report

Philippsen, Bente. (2023) Changing diet in a changing world. Sidestone Press
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Knowledge Transfer

2024

Academic lecture

Seiler, Martin Thomas; Svarva, Helene Løvstrand; Nadeau, Marie-Josée; Khumalo, Wendy Hlengiwe; Philippsen, Bente; Grootes, Pieter Meiert. (2024) Tree-ring C-14 origin seen through the Bombspike magnifying glass. Universita del Salento 4th International Radiocarbon in the Environment Conference , Lecce 2024-09-22 - 2024-09-27
Poster

Seiler, Martin Thomas; Nadeau, Marie-Josée; Philippsen, Bente; Juul, Kenneth; Rustad, Emmy Kristine; Sammeta, Harika. (2024) Radiocarbon emissions in ash and CO2 from waste incineration. Universita del Salento 4th International Radiocarbon in the Environment Conference , Lecce 2024-09-22 - 2024-09-27
Academic lecture

Koivisto, Satu; Måge, Bjørnar; Groß, Daniel; Philippsen, Bente; Robson, Harry K.; Brinch, Marie. (2024) When the Sheep goes marching in. Perspectives on the prehistoric Syltholm Fjord, Denmark. EAA 30th EAA Annual Meeting , Rome, Italy 2024-08-28 - 2024-08-31
Academic lecture

Robson, Harry K.; Koivisto, Satu; Philippsen, Bente; Schmölcke, Ulrich; Stafseth, Terje; Groß, Daniel. (2024) SYLFISH: Fishing in the prehistoric Syltholm Fjord – a diachronic analysis. British Museum British Museum Palaeolithic-Mesolithic Conference , London, UK 2024-04-11 - 2024-04-12
Academic lecture

Philippsen, Bente; Groß, Daniel; Koivisto, Satu; Schmölcke, Ulrich; Robson, Harry K.; Brinch, Marie. (2024) Human-environmental interactions in a prehistoric fjord. Applied Physics Group and CEDAD-Center of Applied Physics, Dating and Diagnostics of the Department of Mathematics and Physics “Ennio De Giorgi” of the University of Salento 4th Radiocarbon in the Environment Conference , Lecce, Italy 2024-09-22 - 2024-09-27
Academic lecture

Koivisto, Satu; Robson, Harry K.; Groß, Daniel; Philippsen, Bente; Schmölcke, Ulrich; Måge, Bjørnar. (2024) Adaptation and integration: Fishing strategies in Stone Age southern Scandinavia evidenced by stationary wooden fishing structures. EAA 30th EAA Annual Meeting , Rome, Italy 2024-08-28 - 2024-08-31
Academic lecture

Koivisto, Satu; Robson, Harry K.; Philippsen, Bente; Schmölcke, Ulrich; Stafseth, Terje; Brinch, Marie. (2024) Wattling for fish – Stone Age fishing with stationary wooden structures in southern Scandinavia c. 6500–1800 cal BCE. Aalto University, University of Eastern Finland, The Governing Body of Suomenlinna, Finnish Heritage Agency, Livady Osakeyhtiö From Forests to Heritage Conference 2024 , Helsinki 2024-05-28 - 2024-05-31

2023

Lecture

Philippsen, Bente. (2023) Economical changes in prehistoric Denmark: Insights from radiocarbon dating. "Scales of Transformation" and Cluster of Excellence ROOTS Biweekly Colloquium, "The depths of time: narratives on transformations and connectivities." , Kiel 2023-11-06 -
Lecture

Philippsen, Bente. (2023) Single-year radiocarbon dating in nordic urban archaeology: Ribe and the importance of context. Diverse NUA - Nordic Urban Archaeology , Copenhagen 2023-05-10 - 2023-05-12
Popular scientific lecture

Seiler, Martin Thomas; Khumalo, Wendy Hlengiwe; Philippsen, Bente. (2023) Radioaktivitet for sporing av karbonkilder: Omvisning i radiokarbonlaboratoriet. NTNU Researchers' Night 2023 , Trondheim 2023-09-29 -
Lecture

Philippsen, Bente. (2023) The freshwater reservoir effect, a tool to reconstruct diet and environment. University of Oxford 3rd Radiocarbon and Diet Conference , Oxford 2023-06-20 - 2023-06-23
Poster

Seiler, Martin Thomas; Philippsen, Bente; Ystgaard, Ingrid. (2023) Stable isotope measurements reveal use of marine plants in Bronze Age Norway. University of Oxford 3rd Radiocarbon and Diet Conference , Oxford 2023-06-20 - 2023-06-23
Interview

Philippsen, Bente; Sollid, Eirik; Holstad, Grete. (2023) Historisk funn skjult under vann: – Håndfaste vitenskapelige bevis. Adresseavisen Adresseavisen [Newspaper] 2023-12-18
Academic lecture

Seiler, Martin Thomas; Philippsen, Bente; Christophersen, Axel; Denham, Sean Dexter. (2023) Marine reservoir effects in early Christian graves from Norway. University of Oxford 3rd Radiocarbon and Diet Conference , Oxford 2023-06-20 - 2023-06-23

Språkvelger

Bente Philippsen