Archemy lab

The Archemy Lab, located in Chemicum room 4010 and managed by our lab technician Naila Nasirova, specialises in preparing archaeological samples for chemical analysis. We work with a wide range of materials, including charred food crusts, ceramic fragments, animal and human bones, and tar residues.

In our wet lab, we prepare samples for various biomolecular and isotopic analyses, such as organic residue analysis (ORA), stable isotope analysis (SIA), compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), and zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS). These methods allow us to isolate and investigate chemical and biological information preserved in ancient materials.

To carry out this work, we use a variety of equipment like a freeze dryer, centrifuge, heating block, and ovens, alongside standard laboratory tools. Once prepared, samples are transferred to specialised facilities, such as the Chromatographic Laboratory, the IRMS Laboratory, or other analytical labs depending on the specific type of instrumental analysis required.