The Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (German: Max-Planck-Institut für Geoanthropologie) performs fundamental research into archaeological science.

In 2015 it took over from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology the task of maintaining the Glottolog.

In October 2021, Boivin was removed from her position, after an investigation found evidence of "workplace misconduct and bullying".

[5] The institute is located on Kahlaische Strasse, about 1 km south-east of the city center.

It is housed in a restored Victorian villa, linked by a glass bridge to a much larger modern building, which includes offices and other facilities for each of the research units, each unit having one floor of the main section of the building.