One of the most interesting questions in prehistory is that of the origins of European peoples following the introduction of settled farming life to the continent some 8,000 years ago. The interdisciplinary BEAN network will address this by combining teaching and research in three different fields: i) Anthropology and genetics, ii) computer simulation and modelling, and iii) prehistoric archaeology. Particularly, it will provide state of the art training in palaeo-genomics, mathematical modelling of prehistoric culture change and statistical demographic inference methods. The network includes one industrial and seven academic participants and five associates and will incorporate an integrated educational system that combines intensive specialized training in each subject and rotation of early stage and advanced researchers. This research has wider impact, for example within the multibillion-euro cultural heritage industry, and BEAN will include internships at three private sector partners; a biotech company, a tourist company and a publisher, as well as the German national statistics office. Thus, participants will engage with cutting edge scientific methods, will combine diverse disciplines and schools of thought and will be guaranteed contact with private companies and state organisations for further career development. Additionally, there will be a special focus on translational skills, particularly media relations and scientific writing, both of which will feed into the final “BEAN-book”, which will be co-authored by ESRs, ERs and PIs, and published by Springer.