Waldron Bioarchaeology Research Laboratory

The Waldron Bioarchaeology Research Laboratory - named in honour of Emeritus Professor Tony Waldron (1940–2021), a key figure in palaeopathology whose teaching and research helped establish osteological study at UCL - is the first designated human osteology research space at UCL. Its development was supported by UKRI RICHeS funding which enabled significant infrastructure upgrades - including new roller racking and the creation of an Osteology Technician post - to improve access and accessibility across our collections.

For more information on the RICHeS programme at UCL, see: Advancing Access to the UCL Archaeological Reference Collections (A3RC) – RICHeS.

The laboratory provides a dedicated environment for researchers, equipped with worktables for skeletal layout and analysis, specialist osteological equipment, and access to several of our key curated collections.

Our Collections

ESC11 Eastgate Square, St Michael’s Litten, Chichester

Originally excavated by our contract archaeology division ASE (Archaeology SouthEast) in 2011, the Institute of Archaeology is now home to this large collection (400+) of human skeletons from the primarily post-medieval site of Eastgate Square, Chichester (1600-1850). This unique collection presents a socio-economically stratified cemetery with internments from both high and low status. The cohort is composed of around 300 adults and 100(+) non-adults. Quality is variable across the material but is generally fair to good. 

Site Report: ESC11 Eastgate Square Site Report

Waldron Paleopathology Collection

Named after Professor Tony Waldron, renowned palaeopathologist, this collection contains examples of tuberculosis, syphilis, malignant and benign cancers, rare skeletal dysplasia, joint disease, and many others from all disease categories (500+ individual elements). Specimens in this collection span the breadth of the history of the Institute of Archaeology, with many accessioned from former Institute staff, such as Professor Ian Cornwall and Professor Don Brothwell.

Tywyn y Capel (G1746)

Excavated by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust in 2003-2004 and acquired by the Institute of Archaeology in 2022, this early mediaeval Welsh collection contains the remains of approximately 100 individuals. These unique tiered cist burials from North West Wales (Trearddur Bay) are believed to have been associated with an ancient chapel that has since washed away. 

Site Report: Tywyn y Capel (G1746) Site Report

CS06 Coronation Street, South Shields, Tyne Upon Wear

This late post medieval (1770-1850) collection from Coronation Street, South Shields, has been recently acquired by the Institute of Archaeology and provides an excellent comparative assemblage for ESC11. Comprised of over 200 individuals – with almost half being non-adults – this collection represents individuals from St Hilda’s Church cemetery and the close surround. 

Site Report: CS06 Coronation Street Site Report

Other Collections

The UCL Institute of Archaeology holds additional osteological and archaeological collections available for research and study.

A comprehensive catalogue of our collections available for study will be released in late 2026.

Collections Access Information

General Conditions

Please allow at least two weeks for the review of your application. During the summer months (April–July), UCL students will have priority access to space and collections.

If permission for scientific work is granted, the following conditions apply:

• All analytical data and results must be made available to the IoA. Data intended for publication must also be submitted prior to publication.
• Digital copies of any publications arising from the work must be provided. These will be archived with the collections to ensure a continuous research record.
• UCL IoA’s permission must be acknowledged in all outputs, including photographs, publications, and online media.
• Any work produced with the help of IoA staff or using IoA equipment must be appropriately acknowledged.
• Samples may only be used for the purposes outlined in the application. Any additional use requires formal approval.
• Any damage or breakages must be reported immediately.
• Applicants must maintain box order and handle material carefully to prevent mixing of individuals.
• All staff, students, and visitors must follow professional guidelines for the treatment of human remains (BABAO Guidelines and Codes).
• RICHeS Funding: Recipients of the RICHeS Access Fund must also comply with the additional requirements for depositing and publishing results and data through the Heritage Data Science Service (HSDS). Please review the conditions outlined in your funding agreement for full details.

Destructive Sampling Conditions

Application for destructive sampling will be evaluated on its own merits, ensuring that the long-term preservation of the IoA collections is balanced with research value. In addition to the general access conditions, researchers requesting destructive sampling must adhere to the following:

• The application must clearly outline the proposed methodology, including sample sizes, techniques, feasibility, and any relevant prior results.
• All material selected for sampling must be documented in advance using the appropriate methods determined by IoA staff (e.g. photographs, 3D scans, or impressions).
• Destructive sampling may involve additional costs related to staff time, consumables, or other resources. These must be discussed with the IoA before sampling takes place and covered by the researcher or project budget.
• Copies of all documentation must be deposited with the IoA in two formats: one digital copy via cloud storage and one physical copy (e.g. USB).
• Research involving destructive sampling must be carried out in collaboration with IoA staff, and their contribution must be explicitly acknowledged in any publications or outputs.
• Any remaining material or unused samples must be returned to the IoA once scientific analysis has been completed.

Application Review Process

Applications will be assessed on:

• Scholarly merit of the proposal.
• Feasibility of the project.
• Appropriateness of proposed methods/techniques to the research questions.
• Applicant’s expertise in working with osteological material/using the specified methods.
• Fragility/availability of the requested material.
• Sample sizes in relation to the rarity/uniqueness of remains.
• In cases of destructive analysis, the presence and condition of antimeres where appropriate.
• Potential short- and long-term impacts on the collection.
• Health and safety considerations.

If information is insufficient, further details will be requested.

The IoA is committed to minimising destructive sampling and avoiding unnecessary duplication of projects or datasets, particularly when working with rare or unique material. Applications are assessed in line with these priorities to ensure the long-term preservation and responsible use of the collections. 

Applications should be submitted well in advance, as short-notice access cannot be guaranteed.

Application Instructions 

Once you have reviewed this guidance, please email ioa.osteology@ucl.ac.uk before submitting your application to inform us of your interest and provide a broad outline of your proposed project. If you plan to conduct destructive analysis, please indicate this in your email. This allows us to advise on the suitability of your project, laboratory availability, and whether any additional documentation is required. You will then be directed to complete the Collections Access Form.

The Collections Access Form contains:

• Application Form
• Destructive Analysis Form – complete only if your project requires destructive analysis

To ensure the safe use of the collections, applications from external students must be countersigned by a supervising member of staff from their home institution. This should be done by completing the UCL IoA Student Endorsement Form.

When advised to proceed:

1. Complete the relevant sections of the UCL IoA Collections Access Form (and the Destructive Analysis Form if applicable).
2. External students: attach the UCL IoA Student Endorsement Form.
3. Send all documents to ioa.osteology@ucl.ac.uk.

Human Remains Policy

The Institute of Archaeology Human Remains Policy is under active review. Pending completion of this process, the IoA bases its approach to the care, management, and use of human remains on the following frameworks:

• Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums (DCMS, October 2005)
• Codes of Ethics and Practice (British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, BABAO, 2019)

For queries regarding the IoA Human Remains Policy, contact:

• ioa.osteology@ucl.ac.uk
• c.rando@ucl.ac.uk

Laboratory Access Details

• The laboratory is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• Access is subject to UCL closure dates (including bank holidays and university closures).
• Researchers are expected to plan their work within these hours and closures.

Funding Information

Funding is available for visiting researchers. Please see the RICHeS Access Fund for more information.

Please be aware that data produced from research funded by RICHeS is required to be deposited with the Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS). For full guidance on data deposition requirements, see the HSDS Deposit Data website.