It is my pleasure to welcome you here on the occasion of the International Symposium, "Landscape Troia between Earth History and Culture". The topic Troia has stimulated many scientists, historians and experts in the history of arts to interpret data and adjust concepts regarding the de­ velopment of early Troia. In the past two decades the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities has supported several research activities which are related to the Troia project. One of the aims of the archaeometry laboratory is to localize Aegean and Anatolian sources for the procurement of prehistoric metals such as gold, silver, lead, copper and tin. In particular in the Troad, numerous mining and smelting