Task 1 will nourish Task 2 (climate modelling) and Task 3 (Research axes). Projects associated with this task include reconstructing vegetation cover during the last ice age (MIS 3 and the LGM), a study of stable isotopes of herbivore teeth for the validation of paleo-climatic simulations, and coastal zone modeling and loess deposition. A reconstruction of marine productivity along European coastal areas (leader: A de Vernal) applicable to Axes 1 and 2 is also planned.

Projects 4.1 and 4.2 PALEOVEGETATION
Co-PIs: A. DE VERNAL and M. PEROS.
These projects will create vegetation reconstructions for MIS3 and the LGM in Europe, supplying valuable data for Task 3.

Project 4.3 TOPOGRAPHY
PI: C. WREN (co-PI: A. COSTOPOULOS).
This project will model topographic variability in coastal areas of Europe during the last glacial period. The results will be integrated into Task 3 (modelling habitat suitability).

Project 4.4 LOESS
PI: J. KING
This project will model the deposition of loess in Western Europe during the last glacial period. A loess transport and deposition model will be created for the Last Glacial, adapting existing models. Loess deposition is a dynamic aspect of the physical environment which could explain some of the discrepancies between model predictions and the distribution of archaeological data and will therefore feed Task 3.