In 1925, he graduated from the University of Tartu. In 1931, he studied at Baltic Institute in Stockholm and developed a scholarly working relationship with Finnish archaeologist Ella Kivikoski, who was one of his main contacts with Scandinavian archaeologists.
Between 1930–1942, he was a museum director He worked at Tartu University during World World War II but was arrested in 1944. He resumed his post at the university after the war.
He worked at the Institute of History and Archaeology as the department head until his death.
Tanel Moora became an archaeologist and Ann Marksoo a geographer. Harri Moora"s grandsons are politician Jürgen Ligi and archeologist Priit Ligi.
After Moora"s death, two other Estonian archaeologists, Lembit Jaanits and Jüri Selirand co-authored a book in his memory, Studia archaeologica in memoriam Harri Moora, published in 1970.
From 1936 to 1950 he was Chairman of the Estonian Learned Society and a member of the International Union of the History of Science.
