Dawn Elise Mooney

Dawn Elise Mooney serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Cultural Heritage at the University of Stavanger, specializing in environmental archaeology with extensive fieldwork across the North Atlantic region including Norway, Iceland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Her research centers on archaeological wood and plant remains analysis, particularly examining historical human utilization of plant resources and its implications for contemporary environmental stewardship.

Her research interests focus on human-plant interactions in prehistoric contexts, with particular emphasis on marine resource utilization in the North Atlantic. Key areas include driftwood procurement systems, seaweed exploitation patterns, and woodland management strategies among Norse communities. Mooney's work bridges archaeological science with contemporary environmental concerns, exploring how historical resource use patterns can inform modern sustainability practices. Through detailed analysis of charred plant remains and wooden artifacts, she reconstructs past subsistence strategies and environmental relationships.

Mooney leads the NFR-funded MARGAIN project (Marine Resource Gathering and Infrastructure in the Norse North Atlantic) and co-leads the UiS BEAM research program. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on transdisciplinary approaches to human-ocean interactions, with increasing attention to public engagement regarding disappearing coastal resources. She actively participates in the EAA Community of Research on Wild Plant Resources, fostering international collaboration in archaeobotanical studies.

As an academic leader, Mooney directs significant research initiatives while maintaining active fieldwork and publication output. Her outreach activities include public lectures on coastal heritage and resource management, demonstrating commitment to translating archaeological research into contemporary environmental discourse. She frequently presents at major international conferences including the European Association of Archaeologists and Society for American Archaeology meetings.