Organisation: University of Sheffield
Principal investigator: Umberto Albarella
Investment Overview
These collections are an internationally renowned resource for bioarchaeologists and an essential resource for those studying and working in zooarchaeology and archaeobotany. They comprise significant numbers of animal skeletons including birds, mammals, reptiles and fish (circa 2000), and comprehensive collections of seeds, fruits, pollen, wood charcoal, roots, starch and phytoliths.
RICHeS investment has supported collections research through enabling the expansion of the zooarchaeology collection through the acquisition of additional animal skeletons, the creation of a digital index for the archaeobotanical collections, and the purchase of new Leica microscope camera and 3D analysis software for photographing and studying specimens. Alongside this, RICHeS has funded two part-time specialist technicians (in Zooarchaeology and Archaeobotany) to manage the collections and support access to them. RICHeS investment at the University of Sheffield enables regular open access days to the Bioarchaeology collections for members of the public, researchers and professional archaeologists.
This investment is partnered with the Heritage Science Collections Hub: South (HSCH:S) in Portsmouth and the Ark of the North in Scotland, forming a network of collection hubs. This collaboration ensures that heritage science equipment, expertise and resources are accessible throughout the UK.
Explore More
Visit the HSDS Catalogue of Services for information on services available to access.
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