Facilities & Equipment

The Environmental Archaeology Laboratory features brand-new Leica Microsystems microscopes and imaging systems for the analysis and documentation of a variety of archaeological and comparative materials. In addition to our microscopy laboratory, we maintain a separate, code-compliant wet lab with a fume hood for chemical preparation of botanical microremains (pollen, phytoliths, starch grains) from archaeological materials and sediments. Our microscopes and imaging capabilities are described in further detail below.

We also partner with other laboratories across the Boston University campuses to offer dedicated analytical and comparative collections, including the Zooarchaeology Laboratory (BU Dept. of Archaeology), the Stable Isotope Laboratory (BU Dept. of Biology), the Chemical Instrumentation Center (BU Dept. of Chemistry), and the Forensic Anthropology Human Osteology Laboratory (BU Medical School, Dept. of Anatomy). Other partnering institutions in Boston include the Boston College Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry Facility (Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences), the Harvard University Herbaria, and Arnold Arboretum.


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DM2700

The newly released, state-of-the-art Leica DM2700 incident light microscope offers bright- and darkfield illumination modules for examination of three-dimensional relief on flat surfaces. LED illumination offers bright light and a consistent color temperature across illumination levels. Objectives provide 50x, 100x, 200x, and 500x magnification.



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M50

The Leica M50 stereomicroscope offers five levels of zoom with discrete objective lenses (6.3-50x magnification); an exceptionally wide field of view; an offset optics tube offering split visual pathways; and an LED2000 ring and incident LED light systems, providing bright, steady-color illumination. Attachments include an AX carrier for distortion-free continuous focus imaging (used with Z-Builder software plugin for extended focal range imaging) and a 360° cup stage.



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M80

The state-of-the-art Leica M80 stereomicroscope offers 7.5-90x continuous zoom magnification; an offset optics tube offering split visual pathways; and both an LED2000 ring and gooseneck LED light systems, providing flexible, bright, steady-color illumination. Attachments include an AX carrier for distortion-free continuous focus imaging (used with Z-Builder software plugin for extended focal range imaging) and a 360° cup stage.



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S4E

Four Leica S4E stereomicroscopes with high-quality Greenough optics offer 6.3-30x magnification and are equipped with LED2000 ring and incident LED light systems, providing bright, steady-color illumination.



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S6D

One Leica S6D stereomicroscope offers 6.3-40x magnification and an imaging port for photomicrography. It is equipped with LED2000 ring and incident LED light systems, providing bright, steady-color illumination.