Environmental Laboratory of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Hradec Králové – History, Present and Plans for the Future

Abstract

The Centre for Fieldwork Archaeology of the Department of Archaeology, Philosophical Faculty, University of Hradec Králové, is developing a new environmental laboratory. It is focused on the application of several methods in large-scale rescue excavations on large infrastructure construction sites. The methods are focused on geochemistry – with wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD XRF) as its main method of analysis, and optically stimulated luminescence (pOSL) dating. The laboratory is gathering various devices and apparatus to support its analytical strength in order to produce data of good quality. The laboratory also plans to develop the provision of services for other institutions and activities to support scientific cooperation in the above-mentioned methods.