Archaeological Micromorphology Short Intensive course

The Archaeological Micromorphology Short Intensive course takes place during the Term 2 UCL reading week at the Institute of Archaeology (the first session is on the Saturday immediately before the Reading week begins and followed by day-long sessions from Monday to Friday). 

This 40-hour course is suitable both for beginners and more experienced micromorphologists. Several archaeological themes are covered by the organisers and examined through dedicated study of micromorphology slides from the Institute's reference collections. For more experienced micromorphologists, the course offers opportunities to dedicate more time to study these collections and also to organise consultations focussed on their research materials (thin sections may be brought to the course).

Organisers 

Manuel Arroyo-Kalin is Associate Professor in Geoarchaeology at the UCL Institute of Archaeology, where he manages the Geoarchaeology lab and leads the EarthLab group. He has published extensively on anthropogenic landscape transformations and the micromorphology of Amazonian Dark Earths. He has also contributed micromorphological expertise to research and contract projects, as well as supervised research involving the micromorphology of cave sediments, paleosols, chernozems, raised fields, mudbrick, water-lain sediments, burnt houses, ash mounds, and vitrified dung. He currently supervises three PhD students using archaeological micromorphology in their own research on anthrosols, urban soils and dark earths.

Richard Macphail has 35 years+ post-doctoral experience in archaeological soil micromorphology, and is at the forefront of current research, for example, in caves, urban archaeology, experiments, buried soils and floors. Co-author of agenda-setting volumes on archaeological micromorphological analysis. Recipient of the Geological Society of America’s Rip Rapp Award for Archaeological Geology 2009 as well as the International Union of Soil Sciences 10th Kubiëna Medal for Soil Micromorphology (with Paul Goldberg).

Further information

Themes/subjects covered in previous courses include: 

1. Archaeological applications of soil micromorphology and reporting.
2. Description of soil types, sediments structures, and archaeological deposits.
3. Hunter-gatherer sediments and caves.
4. Clearance and low impact (e.g., herding) activities.
5. Cultivation (low intensity).
6. Animal management and manuring.
7. The 'Settlement Morphology' Model.
8. Paleosols.
9. Dark Earths.

Registration

The 2026 course will be advertised mid November 2025. Please contact Manuel Arroyo-Kalin for details of future courses.

Course participants

The fees include full participation in the course only. Attendees must organise their own accommodation, meals.