This environmental humanities project aims to explore the entanglement between natural and cultural heritage in the Baltic Sea from a deep time perspective. It is expected to establish a trans-disciplinary scientific network where experts in Archaeology, Anthropology, Biology, Ecology, English, Osteology, Philosophy develop joint research strategies for a sustainable management of the Baltic Sea.

The study will analyse interactions between humans and seals in the Baltic Sea from a historical perspective under the impact of environmental change and anthropogenic responses. This will contribute to our understanding on dynamics of natural recourses and the processes affecting marine mammals during drastic climatic events and human pressure which is necessary to increase our capabilities of estimating large-scale and long-term implications of environmental changes.

In addition, this project will contain a study on natural/cultural heritage trade-offs by tracing and mapping how peoples choices regarding land and water management are interlinked with water as a resource. It means to expose, highlight and question the sacrificial logic of today´s choices that have implications for what heritage is being passed onto future generations.