# Carl L. Thunberg

Carl Leif Torbjörn Hugo Erik Johan Erskine Thunberg, FSAScot (born 25 October 1963) is a Swedish popular historian. As a writer, he has primarily focused on subjects related to the Viking Age and the Middle Ages.

## Biography

Thunberg was a punk rock musician during his youth. In 1979 he co-founded the pioneering hardcore punk band Homy Hogs. In this context he became a recurring character in the early comics of Joakim Lindengren. He also appears in Stig Larsson's autobiographical novel När det känns att det håller på ta slut. In the 1990s he ran the indie record label Burn Records with metal guitarist Fredrik Lindgren. He also made a guest appearance on Lindgren’s punk band Loud Pipes' debut album The Downhill Blues in 1997.
Thunberg was educated at the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University. He has lectured on didactic method for history as a school subject. Thunberg became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2016.
Thunberg has in particular worked in various ways in the field of cultural environment work and heritage protection. From 2010 to 2012 he took part in the policy struggle to preserve the archaeological reconstructions at Gene fornby near Örnsköldsvik in Sweden.
In 2021, Thunberg was one of ten archaeologists and historians who evaluated two very controversial findings presented by archaeologist Sven Rosborn: the Curmsun Disc, an artifact claimed to originate from Harald Bluetooth’s alleged grave in the ruined church in the village of Wiejkowo in Pomerania (now part of Gmina Wolin, Poland), and a transcription of an alleged medieval manuscript, Gesta Wulinensis ecclesiae pontificum. Thunberg’s assessment was that extensive further research would be required to make a judgment on authenticity. He also emphasized the importance of avoiding hasty conclusions in either direction. Others involved in that evaluation were much more dismissive of Rosborn's claims.
In 2022 he was appointed chairman of Västernorrland County Museum. In 2023 Thunberg became chairman of the Swedish antiquities fund Stiftelsen Björkå AB Fornminnesfond, a foundation for financial contributions to science within archaeological areas, and research grants for scholarly projects involving protected historic buildings, archaeological sites and ancient remains.
In 2023 Thunberg joined the working group for Blue Shield Sweden's inclusion in Blue Shield International. In 2024 the Swedish National Committee was approved as Blue Shield's 34th national committee. Thunberg was then appointed to the newly formalized board of Blue Shield Sweden.
On March 16, 2025, Sven Rosborn announced through the publisher Pilemedia that Thunberg will henceforth assist Rosborn’s research team with detailed investigations into various circumstances surrounding Gesta Wulinensis ecclesiae pontificum and the Curmsun Disc.

## Selected publications

* "To Map a Country's Ancient Remains and Cultural Heritage within the Framework of Systematic Protection and Interactive Preservation" (2024). In: 30th EAA Annual Meeting: Persisting with change: 30th EAA Annual Meeting in Rome, 2024. European Association of Archaeologists (EAA).
* ’’Gene fornby: The Ancient Village of Gene’’(2013). In: EXARC Journal Digest 2013. ISSN 2212-523X.
* Slaget på Fyrisvallarna i ny tolkning (2012) [The Battle of Fýrisvellir in a New Interpretation] ISBN 978-91-981859-5-9, ISBN 978-91-981859-7-3.
* Att tolka Svitjod (2012) [To interpret Svitjod] ISBN 978-91-981859-4-2, ISBN 978-91-637-5725-9.
* Särkland och dess källmaterial (2011) [Serkland and its Source Material] ISBN 978-91-981859-3-5, ISBN 978-91-637-5727-3.
* Ingvarståget och dess monument (2010) [The Ingvar Expedition and its Monuments] ISBN 978-91-981859-2-8, ISBN 978-91-637-5724-2.