Heidi Mjelva Breivik

About

Archaeology

Research

My research is focused on relations between humans and environment in prehistory, in particular the earliest Stone Age hunter-gatherers of Norway. As pioneer settlers of a landscape that was gradually exposed after the last Ice Age, these humans were acting in an environment under rapid change. I am interested in how they coped with changes in climate and resource base. I have particularly studied coastal and oceanic environments and how the conditions fluctuated from the Late Glacial to Post Glacial times.

I have also explored similar matters in Southern Argentina (the RCN financed Marine Ventures project) where climate and landscape morphology are similar to the Norwegian conditions.

I enjoy exploring different methods and proxies to illuminate ecological research questions about past cultural and natural trajectories. Recently, I have taken an interest in sedimentary aDNA as a new avenue to gain insight into dietary practices in the past.

Environmental Archaeology

Publications

2025

Torre, Renato La; Kosel, Paula; Bieker, Vanessa Carina; Westergaard, Kristine Bakke; Mykkeltvedt, Jonas Lien; Yildirim, Kathinka Louisa. (2025) Sedimentary ancient DNA metagenomic analysis provides new insights into farming in central Norway from the Bronze Age to late Medieval period. bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology
Academic article

2024

Kalseth, Jenny; Rønning, Marte Iversen; Sandbakk, Elin; Cyvin, Øylov Emma; Skjelbakken, Roger; Grav, Ellen J.. (2024) Midt-Norges forhistorie, nytt innhold i monter 1-3, 5-6.
Museum exhibition
Eidshaug, Jo Sindre Pålssønn; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Risbøl, Ole; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2024) From earth to sky: Large-scale archaeological settlement patterns in southernmost South America based on ground surveys, UAV LiDAR, and open access satellite imagery. Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology
Academic article

2023

Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Kalseth, Jenny. (2023) Steinalderfolkenes livsnødvendige verktøy. Spor
Popular scientific article
Hofmann, Daniela; Handberg, Søren; Ebert, Bettina; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Callanan, Martin; Immonen, Visa Aleksis. (2023) Arkeologi i ny finansieringsstruktur: Kvalitet er ikke alltid enkelt. Khrono.no
Reader opinion piece
Haugen, Randi Wenche; Grav, Ellen J.; Stenøien, Hans Kristen; Fastner, Jørgen; Randerz, Ellen L.Wijgård; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2023) Neandertalerne.
Museum exhibition

2021

Sletvold, Brage; Skar, Birgitte; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2021) Store data som inngang til fortidig demografi - variasjon i demografi og bosetningsintensitet lang kysten av Midt-Norge i mesolittisk tid. NTNU NTNU
Masters thesis

2020

Sylvester, Morten; Sandbakk, Elin; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Airola, Leena Aulikki; Kalseth, Jenny; Hojem, Åge. (2020) Smykker og spenner fra jernalderen.
Museum exhibition
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2020) Diachronic trends among Early Mesolithic site types? A study from the coast of central Norway.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

2019

Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Piana, Ernesto; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Negre, Joan. (2019) Spatial patterning and occupation dynamics during the Early Holocene in an archaeological site from the south coast of Tierra del Fuego: Binushmuka I. Estudios Atacameños
Academic article
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Eidshaug, Jo Sindre Pålssønn; Risbøl, Ole; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2019) Struts og drone: Fra årets feltarbeid på Ildlandet i Argentina. Spor
Popular scientific article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Sylvester, Morten; Airola, Leena Aulikki; Sandbakk, Elin; Skjelbakken, Roger; Hojem, Åge. (2019) Metallsøkerfunn: små glimt fra fortiden.
Museum exhibition

2018

Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fossum, Guro; Solheim, Steinar. (2018) Exploring human responses to climatic fluctuations and environmental diversity: Two stories from Mesolithic Norway. Quaternary International
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2018) Steinalder, skjærgård og sjøfangst ytterst i verden. Spor
Popular scientific article

2017

Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2017) Tent, hut or house? A discussion on Early Mesolithic dwellings in light of the site Mohalsen 2012-II, Vega, Northern Norway.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann. (2017) Early Mesolithic Central Norway: A Review of Research History, Settlements, and Tool Tradition.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Skar, Birgitte; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2017) Environment and adaptation of forager pioneers in the North-western regions of Europe.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Rosvold, Jørgen; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2017) An Early Holocene Bearded Seal from the Trondheimsfjord: Environmental and Archaeological Implications.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Persson, Per; Riede, Felix; Skar, Birgitte; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Jonsson, Leif. (2017) The Ecology of Early Settlement in Northern Europe. Conditions for Subsistence and Survival. The Early Settlement of Northern Europe, Volume 1. Equinox Publishing Equinox Publishing
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Negre, Joan. (2017) Spatial patterning and occupation dynamics during the Early Holocene in an archaeological site from the south coast of Tierra del Fuego: Binushmuka I. Estudios Atacameños
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Callanan, Martin; Sauvage, Raymond; Nielsen, Svein Vatsvåg. (2017) Fra flintfunn til fakta. Hvordan arkeologer gjenskaper levde steinalderliv. Spor
Popular scientific article

2016

Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco J.; Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav. (2016) NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2016/4. Excavation of Mohalsen 2012-II, Vega municipality, Nordland. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
Report
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Callanan, Martin. (2016) Hunting High and Low: Postglacial Colonization Strategies in Central Norway between 9500 and 8000 cal BC. European Journal of Archaeology
Academic article
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Piana, Ernesto; Negre, Joan. (2016) Marine Ventures: The Cambaceres Surveys, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Piana, Ernesto; Skar, Birgitte; Tivoli, Angélica M.. (2016) Marine Ventures - Archaeological perspectives on Human-Sea relations. Equinox Publishing Equinox Publishing
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Piana, Ernesto; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2016) Exploring the Role of Pinnipeds in the Human Colonization of the Seascapes of Patagonia and Scandinavia.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Piana, Ernesto. (2016) On the applicability of environmental and ethnographic reference frames: An example from the high-latitude seascapes of Norway and Tierra del Fuego.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann. (2016) Dynamic relations between humans and environment in the earliest settlement phase of Norway (9500-8000 cal BC). Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral dissertation
Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Piana, Ernesto. (2016) Exploring Trajectories towards Social Complexity: Marine Foragers in the Archipelagos of Tierra del Fuego and Norway.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Piana, Ernesto; Negre, Joan; Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav. (2016) NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2016/15. Marine Ventures: The Cambaceres Surveys, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
Report

2014

Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2014) Palaeo-oceanographic development and human adaptive strategies in the Pleistocene–Holocene transition: A study from the Norwegian coast. The Holocene
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav. (2014) A Discovery of Quite Exceptional Proportions: Controversies in the Wake of Anders Nummedal’s Discoveries of Norway’s First Inhabitants. Bulletin of the History of Archaeology
Academic article

2013

Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2013) Ytterst i verden- Steinalder, skjærgård og sjøfangst, Ildlandet og Norge.
Museum exhibition

2012

Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2012) Report, Excavation of Mohalsen2012‐II. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
Report
Ellingsen, Ellen Johanne Grav; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2012) Anders Nummedal: fra "quasi-lærd" til steinaldernerd. Primitive tider
Academic article
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2012) Off shore pioneers: Scandinavian and Patagonian lifestyles compared in the Marine Ventures project. Antiquity
Academic article

Journal publications

Torre, Renato La; Kosel, Paula; Bieker, Vanessa Carina; Westergaard, Kristine Bakke; Mykkeltvedt, Jonas Lien; Yildirim, Kathinka Louisa. (2025) Sedimentary ancient DNA metagenomic analysis provides new insights into farming in central Norway from the Bronze Age to late Medieval period. bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology
Academic article
Eidshaug, Jo Sindre Pålssønn; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Risbøl, Ole; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2024) From earth to sky: Large-scale archaeological settlement patterns in southernmost South America based on ground surveys, UAV LiDAR, and open access satellite imagery. Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Kalseth, Jenny. (2023) Steinalderfolkenes livsnødvendige verktøy. Spor
Popular scientific article
Hofmann, Daniela; Handberg, Søren; Ebert, Bettina; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Callanan, Martin; Immonen, Visa Aleksis. (2023) Arkeologi i ny finansieringsstruktur: Kvalitet er ikke alltid enkelt. Khrono.no
Reader opinion piece
Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Piana, Ernesto; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Negre, Joan. (2019) Spatial patterning and occupation dynamics during the Early Holocene in an archaeological site from the south coast of Tierra del Fuego: Binushmuka I. Estudios Atacameños
Academic article
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Eidshaug, Jo Sindre Pålssønn; Risbøl, Ole; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2019) Struts og drone: Fra årets feltarbeid på Ildlandet i Argentina. Spor
Popular scientific article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fossum, Guro; Solheim, Steinar. (2018) Exploring human responses to climatic fluctuations and environmental diversity: Two stories from Mesolithic Norway. Quaternary International
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2018) Steinalder, skjærgård og sjøfangst ytterst i verden. Spor
Popular scientific article
Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Negre, Joan. (2017) Spatial patterning and occupation dynamics during the Early Holocene in an archaeological site from the south coast of Tierra del Fuego: Binushmuka I. Estudios Atacameños
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Callanan, Martin; Sauvage, Raymond; Nielsen, Svein Vatsvåg. (2017) Fra flintfunn til fakta. Hvordan arkeologer gjenskaper levde steinalderliv. Spor
Popular scientific article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Callanan, Martin. (2016) Hunting High and Low: Postglacial Colonization Strategies in Central Norway between 9500 and 8000 cal BC. European Journal of Archaeology
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2014) Palaeo-oceanographic development and human adaptive strategies in the Pleistocene–Holocene transition: A study from the Norwegian coast. The Holocene
Academic article
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav. (2014) A Discovery of Quite Exceptional Proportions: Controversies in the Wake of Anders Nummedal’s Discoveries of Norway’s First Inhabitants. Bulletin of the History of Archaeology
Academic article
Ellingsen, Ellen Johanne Grav; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2012) Anders Nummedal: fra "quasi-lærd" til steinaldernerd. Primitive tider
Academic article
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2012) Off shore pioneers: Scandinavian and Patagonian lifestyles compared in the Marine Ventures project. Antiquity
Academic article

Books

Persson, Per; Riede, Felix; Skar, Birgitte; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Jonsson, Leif. (2017) The Ecology of Early Settlement in Northern Europe. Conditions for Subsistence and Survival. The Early Settlement of Northern Europe, Volume 1. Equinox Publishing Equinox Publishing
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Piana, Ernesto; Skar, Birgitte; Tivoli, Angélica M.. (2016) Marine Ventures - Archaeological perspectives on Human-Sea relations. Equinox Publishing Equinox Publishing
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings

Part of book/report

Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2020) Diachronic trends among Early Mesolithic site types? A study from the coast of central Norway.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2017) Tent, hut or house? A discussion on Early Mesolithic dwellings in light of the site Mohalsen 2012-II, Vega, Northern Norway.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann. (2017) Early Mesolithic Central Norway: A Review of Research History, Settlements, and Tool Tradition.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Skar, Birgitte; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2017) Environment and adaptation of forager pioneers in the North-western regions of Europe.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Rosvold, Jørgen; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2017) An Early Holocene Bearded Seal from the Trondheimsfjord: Environmental and Archaeological Implications.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Piana, Ernesto; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2016) Exploring the Role of Pinnipeds in the Human Colonization of the Seascapes of Patagonia and Scandinavia.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Piana, Ernesto. (2016) On the applicability of environmental and ethnographic reference frames: An example from the high-latitude seascapes of Norway and Tierra del Fuego.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Tivoli, Angélica M.; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Piana, Ernesto. (2016) Exploring Trajectories towards Social Complexity: Marine Foragers in the Archipelagos of Tierra del Fuego and Norway.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Report

Sletvold, Brage; Skar, Birgitte; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2021) Store data som inngang til fortidig demografi - variasjon i demografi og bosetningsintensitet lang kysten av Midt-Norge i mesolittisk tid. NTNU NTNU
Masters thesis
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco J.; Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav. (2016) NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2016/4. Excavation of Mohalsen 2012-II, Vega municipality, Nordland. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
Report
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Piana, Ernesto; Negre, Joan. (2016) Marine Ventures: The Cambaceres Surveys, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann. (2016) Dynamic relations between humans and environment in the earliest settlement phase of Norway (9500-8000 cal BC). Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral dissertation
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco; Piana, Ernesto; Negre, Joan; Ellingsen, Ellen J. Grav. (2016) NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet arkeologisk rapport 2016/15. Marine Ventures: The Cambaceres Surveys, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
Report
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Fretheim, Silje Elisabeth; Zangrando, Atilio Francisco. (2012) Report, Excavation of Mohalsen2012‐II. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
Report

UTSTILLING

Kalseth, Jenny; Rønning, Marte Iversen; Sandbakk, Elin; Cyvin, Øylov Emma; Skjelbakken, Roger; Grav, Ellen J.. (2024) Midt-Norges forhistorie, nytt innhold i monter 1-3, 5-6.
Museum exhibition
Haugen, Randi Wenche; Grav, Ellen J.; Stenøien, Hans Kristen; Fastner, Jørgen; Randerz, Ellen L.Wijgård; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2023) Neandertalerne.
Museum exhibition
Sylvester, Morten; Sandbakk, Elin; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Airola, Leena Aulikki; Kalseth, Jenny; Hojem, Åge. (2020) Smykker og spenner fra jernalderen.
Museum exhibition
Breivik, Heidi Mjelva; Sylvester, Morten; Airola, Leena Aulikki; Sandbakk, Elin; Skjelbakken, Roger; Hojem, Åge. (2019) Metallsøkerfunn: små glimt fra fortiden.
Museum exhibition
Bjerck, Hein Bjartmann; Breivik, Heidi Mjelva. (2013) Ytterst i verden- Steinalder, skjærgård og sjøfangst, Ildlandet og Norge.
Museum exhibition

Teaching

Courses

I teach in the subjects Stone Age and Ecological Archaeology on the Bachelor and Master programmes. I also have the main responsibility for the archaeological field schools on the Master program.

Supervision

I supervise student on Bachelor, Master and PhD levels.

Outreach