The changing fortunes of seaweeds in the North Atlantic from prehistory to the present day

Seaweeds are increasingly presented as a solution to global problems of food insecurity that can simultaneously combat climate change through carbon sequestration and regenerate damaged marine environments. However, seaweed consumption can be viewed as challenging for Western palates, requiring a significant cultural shift in order to become widely accepted. This paper summarizes archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence for seaweed exploitation in the North Atlantic, especially Iceland and Norway, and argues that negative attitudes toward seaweed in the present are less influenced by tradition than by industrialization, capitalism, and ideas of “modernity.” We propose that a better understanding of past human relationships with seaweeds can make their use and consumption more appealing to modern consumers. However, we also acknowledge the limitations of current archaeological practice and the consequent focus on finds of charred seaweed fragments, and examine how we might gain a fuller understanding of past seaweed exploitation practices in regions with poor organic preservation.