The focus of this excellence initiative lies within the Graduate School Human Development in Landscapes (GS) as well as on the program subsidized by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation. The Faculty of Arts and Humanity has established its own research focus called Cultural Spaces.

Reconstruction of a neolithic town

The degree to which the environment influences the development of human societies and their cultures is essential to the understanding of societies. The GS is dedicated to analyzing the reciprocity of environment, social relations, population growths, the development of certain materials as well as the reception of environmental and societal change. The conceptual framework of this field lies within the development of physical and intellectual landscapes that are interwoven with cultural, social and environmental influences that form societies. The Graduate School strives to understand the interconnection of mankind and environment. This is why both the natural science and the humanities are part of this research focus. Within the scope of joint doctoral programs, scientists are encouraged to develop and implement their own research projects. In order to accomplish this task, they are given diverse theoretical concepts and analytical techniques.

Since its start in 2007, two generations of doctoral students have successfully completed their inter-disciplinary studies within this subject area. Three Assistant Professors are focusing on the fields of Environmental Archaeology, Environmental History and Environmental Anthropology. Scientists may draw upon faculty-wide infrastructures in the field of Tracer Analysis, Modelling, Data Management, and Ethics. New educational programs, communication networks and inter-disciplinary research areas have contributed to establishing the GS as an internationally recognized location of excellent research and education.