The scientists at Freie Universität plan to use archaeometric methods to analyze crockery from communities who lived in forest steppe and steppe zones north of the Black Sea between 1100 and 600 BC. One major focus will be to study relationships between groups with different material legacies. Other related issues are, for example, the organization of ceramic production or its function in trading. Up to now the production, distribution, and significance of ceramic vessels in nomadic communities has received little attention in research. It is generally believed that many of these communities rarely used ceramic vessels because they were not suitable for transport due to their fragility.

According to the Volkswagen Foundation, the goal of its funding program "Trilateral Partnerships – Cooperation Projects Involving Researchers from Ukraine, Russia, and Germany" is to contribute to rapprochement, confidence building, and communication in times of crisis. A total of 8.6 million euros has been designated for 39 research projects.