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Institute of Archaeology

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Our Facilities and Archaeology Collections

The Institute has outstanding facilities for an unparalleled range of archaeological research, including laboratories, equipment, archives and collections.

Significant investments in infrastructure including major equipment upgrades and improved postgraduate facilities have taken place in recent years and the benefit of these facilities is reflected in staff publications and PhD research. 

Laboratories

July 2020: Gold LEAF award for UCL Institute of Archaeology Laboratories

  • Archaeological & Geographical Information Systems Laboratory with dedicated hardware and specialist software packages to encourage computer-based research across a wide range of sub-fields in archaeology.
  • Archaeobotany Laboratory with extensive computer catalogued reference collections of seeds, fruits, woods and charcoals, roots and tubers, pollen, phytoliths and a herbarium collection of pressed plants Archaeobotany: Phytolith teaching & research images | Archaeobotany: Collections and Databases
  • Bone Laboratory a comprehensive zooarchaeological and osteological lab with bone and mollusc collections and facilities for digital and statistical analysis. An associated Zooarchaeology Research Laboratory was opened in 2017. 
  • Conservation Laboratories equipped for the investigation and treatment of recently-excavated and museum-quality archaeological and ethnographic material.
  • Geoarchaeology Laboratory with a range of facilities, including wet-sieving capability.
  • Lithics Laboratory providing facilities to encourage research dealing with various aspects of lithic analysis including technological/ typological studies, experimental replications and microwear studies.
  • Photographic Laboratory with facilities to assist students gain experience of archaeological photography while also providing publication-quality images to staff for research outputs.
  • The UCL Ancient DNA Laboratory was built in 2012 under the direction of Mark Thomas. It is located in the Institute of Archaeology but is shared among the following stakeholders - the Division of BioSciences; the Institute of Archaeology; the Centre for the Forensic Sciences. The lab provides a high-containment ultra-clean environment for the extraction and first-stage processing of nucleic acids from archaeological and forensic materials, and is positioned well-away from any post-PCR molecular biology activities.
  • Our suite of Isotope Laboratories houses relevant technique-specific sample preparation and analytical equipment including a Maldi tof-tof 8020 mass spectrometer used for peptide mass fingerprinting of collagen for species identification (ZooMs). ZooMS uses peptide fingerprinting of proteins preserved in the bones to identify the species/genera of a specimen and has a wide number of applications as it can be used to identify bone, ivory, dentine, leather, hair, skin and parchment to species. The Institute is a partner in the Bloomsbury Environment Isotope Facility (BEIF).
  • Wolfson Archaeological Science Laboratories forming a collection of labs that is unparalleled in science-based archaeology within the UK and Europe with excellent facilities for the examination and analysis of a wide variety of archaeological materials.

UCL Research Equipment Catalogue


    Centre for Applied Archaeology

    The Centre for Applied Archaeology (CAA) is a research and support division within the UCL Institute of Archaeology. The CAA encourages research and innovation in professional archaeological practice, building links between commercial practice, academic research, and local communities. The CAA offers professional advice, support and training In cultural resource management, archaeology, conservation, interpretation and project management.


    Archaeology Collections of UCL

    The Institute of Archaeology Collections contain over 80,000 objects that are used in teaching, research and outreach. Archaeological materials include ceramics, lithics and other objects from a range of periods across Europe, Africa, Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Pakistan, India, Mesoamerica, South America and the Caribbean. Notable collectors include Flinders Petrie (the Petrie Palestinian Collection), Kathleen Kenyon, Beatrice de Cardi, W.L. Hildburgh, R.G. Gayer-Anderson and Mortimer Wheeler.

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    The A.G. Leventis Gallery of Cypriot and Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology

    The A.G. Leventis Gallery of Cypriot and Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology showcases the rich collections of the Institute of Archaeology. Objects from ancient Cyprus, Greece, Crete, Egypt and the Levant highlight the cultural diversity of this region over five thousand years and bring peoples of the past to life. These are accompanied by temporary themed displays that highlight the Institute's varied collections. The gallery is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm; entry is free.

    Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology

    The Institute is associated with the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology which contains a superb collection of Egyptological material excavated or purchased by Sir Flinders Petrie together with material subsequently donated by the Egypt Exploration Society and other benefactors.


    Archaeology Archives

    The Institute of Archaeology has a range of archival material that is available for consultation on request. This includes field records associated with excavated material held in the Institute of Archaeology Collections, as well as items relating to the history of the Institute and its staff. Visit our Archives page to find out more.

    Archaeology Archives


    Fieldwork Equipment

    The Institute of Archaeology has a range of archival material that is available for consultation on request. This includes field records associated with excavated material held in the Institute of Archaeology Collections, as well as items relating to the history of the Institute and its staff. Visit our fieldwork page to see what equipment is available.

    Fieldwork Equipment


    Commercial Services

    Green Archaeology