Reassessment of a lake-drilling project conducted in the early 1980s that succeeded in coring the full sediment fill of Lake Zurich. Despite not meeting the scientific expectations at the time, the project is acknowledged as one of the first large-scale interdisciplinary exploration campaigns, which set new research standards. The Zübo science team characterised the deglaciation of the lake in unprecedented detail but met similar geological challenges as those faced by current research programs.

Oxygen isotopes from Atbara River shells reveal that rainfall seasonality has remained similar to modern patterns for about 200 ka, highlighting persistent seasonality that structured savanna ecosystems. Carbon isotopes were more enriched in the Late Pleistocene for reasons still unclear. Today, the Atbara local meteoric water line matches other Nile basin rivers, reflecting strong evaporation and mixed moisture sources.

Ancient Bubastis (Tell Basta) remained occupied for over 3000 years despite the highly dynamic environmental conditions of the Nile Delta. This thesis reconstructs the city's landscape and settlement history using sediment coring, geophysical surveys, and phytolith analyses, demonstrating how geomorphology and changing land-use practices shaped long-term urban development.