The MEMELAND project, funded by a €13 million ERC Synergy grant, is a multidisciplinary endeavour involving researchers from Norway, Austria, Switzerland, and the UK, aimed at enhancing our understanding of medieval Europe by examining the interplay between culture and nature. This project will explore how medieval farming practices have influenced today's landscapes and biodiversity by analysing sedimentary DNA from lake beds and soil across Europe. These sediments, largely undisturbed over centuries, hold clues about past climates, ecologies, and human activities, which can be revealed through various methods, including lipid biomarkers, archeobotanical remains, and Carbon14-dating.

The insights gained will not only deepen our understanding of historical landscapes but also guide current efforts to restore European landscapes to their historical or "natural" states. By determining the ecological conditions of the past, MEMELAND aims to inform and enhance landscape restoration projects across Europe. The project will also investigate broader questions about the role of different social strata in agricultural developments and the impacts of climate and disease. This ambitious project seeks to provide comprehensive answers that transcend the capabilities of individual disciplines alone.