UQ Archaeological Science Laboratories

Recently refurbished and re-equipped, the UQ Archaeological Science Laboratories provide world class integrated research and teaching facilities for UQ staff and students. The facility comprises of 8 dedicated wireless-enabled laboratory spaces in the Michie Building, a field laboratory of equipment for loan, off-site storage facilities and the award winning TARDIS (Teaching Archaeological Research Discipline In Simulation) teaching excavation space. Facilities include:

General purpose work spaces equipped with balances, sample preparation equipment (sieves, sample splitters, ovens, kilns) and optical aids, including dissecting, compound incident and transmitted light microscopes;

Fully equipped field laboratory including:

• Excavation equipment such as trowels, drawing squares, Munsell soil charts, pH kits, tapes, generator etc; Surveying equipment, including differential GPS, EDM, hand held GPS units, dumpy levels and plane tables;

• On-site processing equipment including sieves and flotation tank;

• Specialist analysis equipment including digital calipers, field microscopes and laptops;

• Digital still and video cameras plus accessories;

Research microscopy facility with up-to-date incident and transmitted light microscopes, digital imaging capacity and clean preparation space;

X-ray fluorescence facility for material sourcing studies;

State-of-the-art lithics analysis facilities with 3D object scanners and digital calipers;

Photographic slide scanning and flatbed scanning facilities;

Up-to-date image processing, desktop publishing, statistical analysis, database and GIS software;

Comparative research and teaching collections, including:

• Lithic, metal, glass and shell artefacts;

• Plant macrofossil collections from Southwest Asia, Australia and New Guinea, including seeds, fruits and wood;

• Australia-Pacific shell species;

• Australia-Pacific fish bone;

• Phytolith and starch specimens from the Australia-Pacific region;

• Human osteological and evolution specimens;

• Australia-Pacific mammals and birds;

• Identification manuals and posters;

Maps from the Australia-Pacific region;

Flexible teaching laboratory and workshop, shared with the Anthropology Museum, providing on-site practical teaching;

Quarantine facility for importation of quarantine risk material.

To visit the laboratories, arrange equipment loans (UQ staff and students only) or for quarantine matters please contact Andrew Fairbairn (a.fairbairn@uq.edu.au).

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