Archaeobotany


The archaeobotanical laboratory specializes in the study of macrobotanical material, but the laboratory may also perform research of other eco-facts that require microscopes. The laboratory is equipped with a comparable modern collection of plants as well as eco-factual material from Lithuanian and foreign archeological sites. The collection can be used for the scientific research in various fields of study. The laboratory can be used by Lithuanian and foreign researchers and students with a prior agreement from the head of the laboratory G. Motuzaite Matuzevičiūtė Keen.

Research of the archaeobotanical material is carried out in two stages. The first stage is the collection of material and sieving/flotation of sediment samples. The second stage is research of archaeobotanical material, photo fixation and preparation of a report. The sediment flotation laboratory is equipped with a sink with a sediment trap. It provides conditions for the sediment flotation, sample drying, sorting, sieving, and initial evaluation of the ecofactual material. The archaeobotanical laboratory is equipped with work desks and microscopes, which can be used for the identification of archaeobotanical material.

The study of archaeobotanical remains (mainly charred plant seeds) provide information on human nutrition, medical and textile use of plants, cereal processing processes, cooking technologies, and the paleo-environment.

Price list for the macrobotanical analysis

Research on archaeobotanical material is carried out in two stages:

  1.  Flotation of the sediments and collection of the archaeobotanical material
  2. Analysis of archaeobotanical material, photo fixation and production of a report.

The cost of the first stage of the research is 20 eur per sample: 12-liter bucket if the sample is from a dry-soil object OR 1-liter sample if it comes from a waterlogged object

Second stage of the research – examination of archaeobotanical material (including photo-fixation and preparation of a report) is valued 18 eur/hour of work.