Swedish-born, Dr Geber lived in Ireland for 10 years and is now a lecturer in biological anthropology at the Otago anatomy department.
He is also the lead author of a new study which focuses on ancient bones from a 5000-year-old passage tomb complex at Carrowkeel in County Sligo, in the northwest of Ireland. This site was "one of the most impressive Neolithic ritual landscapes" in Europe, but was still "relatively unknown".
He was well aware there was "a lot more to learn" about the Stone Age burial cairn site.
In the continuing research project, modern techniques and research questions were being applied to human remains that were originally excavated more than 100 years ago.
Researchers analysed bones from up to seven passage tombs that included both unburnt and cremated human remains from about 40 Stone Age people. He and his colleagues determined the unburnt bone showed evidence of dismemberment, and of cut marks caused by stone tools.
These marks were at the site of "tendon and ligament attachments around the major joints", such as the shoulder, elbow, hip and ankle.
The new evidence suggested that a complex burial rite was undertaken at Carrowkeel, that involved a funerary rite which included a particular focus on "deconstruction" of the body.
The bodies of the dead were apparently "processed" by their kin and community in various ways, including cremation and dismemberment. This was probably done "to help the souls of the dead to reach the next stages of their existence".
The study showed the Carrowkeel complex was most likely a "highly significant place" in Irish Neolithic society, and one which allowed for interaction and a spiritual connection with the ancestors, he said.
The research was partly funded by the European Research Executive Agency.