The Ahnenerbe (Ancestral Heritage Organization) was founded in 1935 by Himmler, and became part of the SS in 1939.[325] It was an umbrella agency for more than fifty organizations tasked with studying the German racial identity and ancient Germanic traditions and language.[325][326] The agency sponsored archaeological expeditions in Germany, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Tibet, and elsewhere to search for evidence of Aryan roots, influence, and superiority.[327] Further planned expeditions were postponed indefinitely at the start of the war.[328]