Building on the results of ROOTS 1 (2019-2025), ROOTS 2 pursues a research approach that focuses primarily on the diversity of socio-ecological interrelationships and identifies patterns and regularities in (pre)history. To this end, ROOTS combines expertise from numerous disciplines, including archaeology and other natural sciences, humanities and life sciences. This unique bridge between different scientific cultures is groundbreaking. In six thematically defined subclusters, researchers examine particularly relevant influences on human societies:

• Climate and environmental hazards
• Nutrition and disease
• Settlement systems and urbanity
• Knowledge transfer and innovation
• Inequality in wealth and power
• Conflict and conciliation.

A Core of Synthesis brings together all the thematic areas and systematically addresses the interrelationships and dependencies between key parameters such as: subsistence and biodiversity; inequality and conflict; technology and the human ecological footprint; boundaries and well-being. These investigations contribute to a better understanding of the roots of current global challenges such as vulnerability, polarization, exploitation and separation.

Eight professorships are establishing new integrative and innovative fields of research, including archaeological methodology and theory, global historical archaeology and environmental system modelling. They complement the already broad interdisciplinary expertise of the researchers. The ROOTS Academy offers early-career scientists an attractive exchange platform where independent and innovative research profiles can be developed across disciplinary barriers. In addition, it will further intensify research activities, communication within the Cluster of Excellence and cooperation with international partners.

Based on new high-performance laboratories, data management and data science platforms, as well as archaeological and palaeoecological research facilities, ROOTS is developing an infrastructure that will further consolidate Kiel’s position as a leading location for socio-environmental research into past societies. The planned ARCWorlds (Archaeological Research Centre of Past Lived Worlds) research building will bring these infrastructures together at Kiel University from 2030 onwards.

Involved Institutions:

• Foundation for the Schleswig Holstein State Museums in Gottorf Castle
• IPN – Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education
• Leibniz Centre for Archaeology (LEIZA)
• Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology