Ceramics research laboratory

Thin sections for a range of archaeological and geological materials can be prepared in our ceramics research laboratory for their use in transmitted microscopy. Thin section preparation can be conducted as a commercial service.

The lab also holds the Ann Woods thin section teaching and reference collection, which has been expanded over the years. The collection posses over 2,000 thin sections of varying natures. Real archaeological materials like pottery, mortars and lithics are the base of the collection, but experimental and geological samples are also represented.

Several polarising microscopes are available within Archaeology and Ancient History: the Nikon Eclipse E600 POL (located in the µ-XRF lab and used mainly for research), and one Motic BA300 Pol and six XP-201 (located in the ceramics lab and used mainly for teaching).