Zooarchaeology
C∙U∙BA provides both assessments and full analyses of faunal assemblages from any time period. Our staff have expertise in European and North American vertebrate and invertebrate fauna, as well as working in other parts of the world. Our excellent zooarchaeology laboratory houses hundreds of reference specimens, enabling us to provide fast and accurate analyses of your faunal assemblages.
Human osteology
We specialise in the analysis of human remains from archaeological assemblages to produce information on demography, stature, palaeopathology, and trauma. Human osteological analysis is conducted to standards set out by the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteology (BABAO), the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), and English Heritage. Due to the diverse research interests of our staff and students, our collaborators and clients have also benefitted from additional non-standard analyses, such as ancestry, taphonomic investigations, and expanded dental analyses including metric analyses and morphological studies. Our human osteology team has access to several dedicated lab spaces and reference collections, as well as the use of equipment including digital X-ray scanners, light microscopes, DSLR cameras, and osteometric equipment.
Isotope analysis
C∙U∙BA offers a comprehensive range of isotope analyses able to address targeted research questions or pursue a multi-isotope approach on bone and plant remains. We provide strontium (87Sr/86Sr), including microwave digestion of modern plant samples, carbon and nitrogen (δ13C δ15N), sulfur (δ34S), and oxygen (δ18O) isotope analysis. These methods are used to address questions relating to mobility, diet, health, agriculture, seasonality and landscape management. Not sure how isotope analysis can benefit your project? Contact us to discuss the possibilities.
Don't forget to ask us about our loyalty scheme for commercial collaborators!
Don't forget to ask us about our loyalty scheme for commercial collaborators!
Histology
We undertake thin section slide production of bones and teeth and have the only microtome lab dedicated to osteological analysis of archaeological material in the UK. We undertake transmitted light microscopic analysis of remains for histological analysis, including the production of micrographs and 3-D images (if required) in our high specification microscopy suite. This is used for assessment of bioerosion, osteon population density and cementum banding and can address questions relating to mortuary practices, health, growth and seasonality.
