Unlocking the Past

Wherever people live, they leave traces behind them. Some of these are temporary, others survive the test of time. What we know about the history of humanity we owe to such traces: impressive buildings; magnificent works of art, music and literature; great achievements in the fields of science and technology – but also everyday objects, transit routes, the remains of settlements or ritual sites. All over the world, scientists are investigating the often hidden traces of past eras and cultures. They preserve the remains of the past for the future, and explore the wide range of human activity over many millennia.