The Archaeozoology laboratory is located in Building B3 (bis parell) of the Campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and is structured in 8 spaces, occupying a total area of 161.22 m2. It consists of the following basic infrastructures for carrying out archaeozoological and archaeobiochemical analysis:
Reference collection
The UAB Archaeozoology Laboratory has one of the most important reference collections in the Iberian Peninsula. It consists of a large sample of animal skeletons that allow comparative analysis of the remains. Given the lines of research carried out by the Archaeozoology Laboratory, the reference collection consists of a wide range of skeletons from various geographical areas, where the contributions relating to America stand out for their number. from the South, to the Western Mediterranean and the Eastern East. The largest part of the collection is related to animals from the European continent (both wild and domestic animals).
It is divided into different study categories: mammals, micromammals, birds, fish, reptiles and mollusks. The sample comes mostly from current specimens donated to the laboratory by other institutions, although specific sets from different archaeological interventions associated with a time frame from the Pleistocene to the present are also searchable. It is also notable for very specific collections such as birds, with a majority of specimens from South America. The malacological collection contains both terrestrial and marine specimens from different sources. The presence of specimens from the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the presence of specimens from different areas of the American continent stand out.
The layout of the reference collection is organized in two spaces, in order to make it easier to consult. A first room glossed by whole individuals where many of them are represented by both sexes and by different ages: from infants to adults. In a second space, the osteological collection is distributed according to the different skeletal elements of the different taxa in order to make a more accurate determination. In parallel, a searchable database allows to know the specific particularities of each skeleton that composes the sample, taking into account variables such as geographical origin, annual season of death of the individual, weight at the time of death, etc .; important data for the researchers who use the collection. The reference collection is constantly growing thanks to the different agreements we have with different institutions, such as the Aigüestortes Natural Park and Sant Maurici Lakes, the Collserola Park, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University itself and anonymous donations. In this sense, the laboratory itself consists of the facilities and facilities necessary to process and prepare the animals that are periodically received. This fact leads us to encourage collaboration with other laboratories, institutions and research centers in order to improve our collection. The reference collection of the Archaeozoology Laboratory of the Autonomous University of Barcelona is available to different researchers from the same University, as well as from all over Spain and other countries, so that they can develop their work in our facilities.
In addition to the reference collection, the Archaeozoology Laboratory also has the most significant and relevant manuals and identification guides that allow for both the most accurate and anatomical and taxonomic identification possible.
Library and documentation
The Archaeozoology Laboratory also has the most relevant and current manuals and identification guides, as well as part of the reference collection digitized. The Archaeozoology Laboratory is currently characterized by producing a large volume of research work (master’s degree, thesis) and scientific publications in general. It also has an extensive documentary base (classification manuals, research papers, books and specialized publications …) build over the last 30 years. The preparation of technical reports and scientific reports (whether derived from commissions or from the research projects themselves) is also one of the basic tasks developed in the laboratory.
Instrumental
The Laboratory has the necessary scientific and technological infrastructure for the preparation of specimens and samples for biogeochemical measurements: microscopy service (optical microscopy of reflected and incident light, binocular magnifiers), instrumental micro-dremmel and microburils, Toledo / Kern precision scales, stoves, air extraction equipment, digital calipers; as well as the set of necessary expendable components.