The Analytical Laboratory for Archaeological Materials

Head – Prof. Sariel Shalev

The Analytical Laboratory for Archaeological Materials in University of Haifa, headed by Prof. Sariel Shalev is located in the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences and working in close cooperation with the scholars from the Department of Archaeology and from the Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies.776A8525 2

The lab studies the ancient artifacts and remains which come from excavations in Israel in order to obtain a better understanding of the evolution of technology, industries, crafts, economies, society and culture and to study the archaeological materials contributing to the interface between science and humanities. This is accomplished by addressing archaeological, historical, ethnographical, and art historical questions, and to further explore them with the best available scientific tools.

In the last few years, analytical equipment has seen major advances in their precision and in the rapidity of their analysis, such that quality results are available in real time. Owing to its portability, ease of operation in computerized modes, this equipment is easily usable in the field, in museums, in study collections, and storerooms, etc. The lab is aiming at using this innovative equipment for the study of ancient artifacts and remains in order to obtain a better understanding of the evolution of technology, crafts, economy, society and culture.
The lab became recently the leading interdisciplinary research center of its kind in the field of archaeological materials and archaeometallurgy.ConservationCoin1 H

Main lab equipment:

  • X-ray florescence analyzer (ED-XRF), which is usable in the field and lab, and can provide qualitative and quantitative analyses of 1-8 mm surface area of any object in any state seeing all major elements from concentration of 0.02% and higher, in only a few seconds.
  • Radiography machine for checking the homogeneity of XRF analyses. This technique combined with a good optical microscopy and micro-hardness tester provides a clear picture of the overall inhomogeneity of the analyzed object.
  •  ShalevLab 3

As-cast microstructure of a
heart-shaped weight C97-24×250

 

 

 

Basic Price List for Niton XRF analysis:

Single analysis out of lab:         700 NIS

Single analysis in lab:                500 NIS

Time to and from Field:             345 NIS per hour

Production of Project Report:  2,500 NIS per day work

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Our laboratory welcomes new projects from all over the world

The lab will be happy to respond to any inquiries you may have.

Phone: 972-4-8248138
E-mail: sariel.shalev@univ.haifa.ac.il