Understanding the cultural historical value of the Wadden Sea region. The co-evolution of environment and society in the Wadden Sea area in the Holocene up until early modern times (11,700 BC-1800 AD): An outline

► The Wadden Sea region (WSR) is a cultural landscape of exceptional cultural historical value. ► The salt marshes of the WSR provided for rich economic resources well before its embankment. ► Small scale dyke building occurred in the WSR as early as the late Iron and Roman Iron age. ► Although relatively densely populated no complex political hierarchies developed within the WSR. ► Human occupation is to be considered a significant geological force from the Roman Iron Age onwards.