 This particular area of Middle America was found to be especially suitable for archaeological study because its dominant geographical feature, the still-active Arenal Volcano, had erupted at least nine times in prehistory and provided for extraordinary site-preservation with stratified layers of tephra that facilitated the dating of uncovered discoveries.Examination of the area affected by volcanic eruptions also allowed for further study of human adaptation to such events.Primary disciplinary fields involved in the research project were archeology, botany, and volcanology.