Research Lab for Archaeology and the History of Art

The Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art (RLAHA) is a key part of the School of Archaeology, with the laboratories and other facilities to support research involving the use of scientific methods within Archaeology. 

The RLAHA includes the following main elements:

• The Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU), including an MICADAS AMS for radiocarbon measurement, associated sample pre-treatment facilities, compound specific analysis facilities (HPLC, GC-MS, SFE/SFC).

• The Wellcome Trust Palaeogenomics & Bio-Archaeology Research Network (PalaoBARN) is based here, with its specially built ancient DNA facility in another building nearby.

• The Bioarchaeology laboratory, including access to chemical preparation areas and facilities for stable isotope analysis.

• Tephrochronology facilities including an electron microprobe and dedicated laboratory for the preparation of crypto-tephra samples.

• The Luminescence Laboratory, with facilities for Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating and for research into novel luminescence techniques.

• Materials analysis laboratories with the facilities to use many different techniques (SEM, light microscopy, XRF) for the study of a whole range of archaeological materials.