The extraction of information archived in the soil plays a key role in the NIhK's research. This is why geophysical measurements, drilling campaigns and archaeological excavations are regularly carried out to document traces of settlement over the past 10,000 years, to recover finds of cultural-historical significance or to obtain samples for scientific investigations. In order to give the next generation of researchers the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned during their studies, the fieldwork is concentrated during the summer semester, so that students from Germany and abroad can participate and gain their own practical experience. An international excavation team has been working on the island of Föhr since the beginning of July to uncover the gates and outer ditch of the medieval Borgsumburg rampart. On 5^th August excavations , in close cooperation with the University of Rostock, will also continue in the area of the Iron Age and Roman Iron Age cemetery at Nienbüttel in the district of Uelzen. At the same time, another excavation campaign will start in the area of the Mesolithic site of Groß Todtshorn, district of Harburg. From the beginning of September, new excavations will focus on a number of Roman Iron Age terps erected on beach ridges in Butjadingen, Wesermarsch district. The dates for public guided tours of the excavations will be announced on the NIhK website and in the regional press; however, they can be obtained from the respective teams on site.