Scandinavian settlers colonized the islands of the North Atlantic 500 years before Columbus. They introduced European economies and culture into fragile Arctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems and over time suffered the consequences of ecological damage, human population decreases and extinctions. The Nordic archaeological, historical and ecological data on these human impacts is unique in the circumpolar world and highly relevant to our understanding of global change. This five year project seeks to coordinate, integrate and, through case studies, analyze the complex multi- disciplinary data from the North Atlantic region. This effort will greatly enhance the value of individual research projects in 10 countries, and is of direct relevance to applied studies of fisheries and agriculture in the north.
