Throughout human history, the northern German coastal waters and rivers have played a vital role in communication and the exchange of goods. Medieval written sources in particular report that in this area, it was possible to transport enormous cargos over large distances in a relatively short time, using both ships and boats. In this way, new areas for settlement were also opened up. With this background in mind, the nine studies collected in this volume address various questions regarding migration, interaction and communication across the northern German coastal areas. The volume focuses in particular on current interdisciplinary projects at settlements, landing sites and trading places of the 1st millennium A.D.and on their forms of social organisation.