Materials and Spatial
Archaeology Lab

About Us

The application of the sciences to archaeology helps to better understand archaeological materials in their given context. Archaeological artefacts preserve physical, microscopic, mineralogical, and even chemical signatures that reflect the technological choices and knowledge systems of past societies. By studying these signatures using scientific analytical techniques, we aim to reconstruct ancient manufacturing processes, procurement strategies for raw materials, functional aspects that directly affected the lives of past humans, and craft production. Our research group investigates the compositional, functional, technological, and provenance of archaeological materials using an interdisciplinary approach which combines archaeology with mineralogy, geology, and materials science. Our research integrates microscopic analysis, mineralogical characterisation, geochemical techniques, and experimental studies to understand how materials were produced, used, and circulated within past societies.

Geospatial archaeology refers to the use of spatial technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), along with spatial analysis, to study archaeological sites, landscapes, and human-environment interactions. It helps archaeologists analyse the spatial distribution of cultural remains and reconstruct past landscapes. Old maps, cartographic details, and survey maps are quite helpful for archaeologists before going into the field, as they can inform a useful strategy.