Archaeology Inside the Glass

Archaeology Workroom Inside the Glass

Step inside the Archaeology Collection Workroom doors to chat with research staff and volunteers working with collections. 

Saturday, December 14: Staff will be using XRF (X-ray fluorescence) to analyze the elemental composition of obsidian, metal, and glass objects. XRF analysis can help archaeologists source geological material used to make an object, which can say something about territorial and ethnic boundaries, the location of trails and travel routes, cultural preferences for a particular material, or the presence of trade and exchange systems. It can also tell us how craftspeople of the past intentionally chose properties involved in creating works of metal and glass.

Please note: In-person object identification is only available by prior appointment. If you have an object you would like identified, please submit a request through the Object Identification Request Form.