Osteoarchaeology
Ancient bones and teeth are often all that remain of once-living people and animals, yet these scant remains can yield precious information, which we recover using macroscopic and microscopic observations. ArchaeoBiomics specialises in reconstructing human biographies, by studying the biological profile, life history, physical activity, occupation, diet, social status and pathological conditions of individuals. Animals have had fundamental socio-economic roles throughout human history, so we also attempt to examine the nuanced relationships that have always existed between people and animals.
Biomolecular Archaeology
Ancient biomolecules such as DNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates are increasingly used in archaeological research – providing informative insights into people’s lifeways, what they ate, their daily activities, how they treated illness, and how they conceived and represented their identities in life and death. At ArchaeoBiomics, we specialise in the study of ancient proteins (palaeoproteomics) and lipid residues, developing new methods which allow us to discover new details about the histories of objects, animals, and people.
Heritage Science
Museum collections and other heritage materials have complex biographies, and as such they need to be handled, studied and contextualised using a specific set of approaches, which include for example minimally-invasive analytical methodologies and careful consideration of conservation and restoration strategies. ArchaeoBiomics works with a range of public and private institutions in order to develop integrated methods for the characterisation of heritage materials, their degradation and preservation.
