The main aim of Research Area A is the reconstruction of the spatial environment and its shaping by human beings, as well as the assessment of human adaptation to the natural environment. In the long term, the study area comprises large parts of the Mediterranean region, the Ancient Near East, the Black Sea area and parts of the Eurasian steppe. The investigations of Research Area A are explored at the interface of methods and model building in the Earth Sciences and Archaeology. Research takes place within three main research groups.