In the archaeological sciences, reference collections are invaluable, both for scientific purposes – comparative studies and the application of new analytical methods – and for didactic work in education. These materials can be studied in our specially equipped laboratories and there is also access to the relevant databases.
Botanical Reference Collection
The centrepiece of every archaeobotanical laboratory is the reference collection of modern plant parts. Developed from our own collecting activities, close co-operation with the Universities of Innsbruck, Vienna and Hohenheim, the BOKU Vienna, the University of Applied Arts Vienna and the KU Leuven as well as through exchange agreements with numerous botanical gardens, the current reference collection at the OeAI can look back on a history of over 20 years.
The largest part of the collection currently containsmore than 5,000 specimens of seeds and fruits, mainly from Central European and Mediterranean plants. These are supplemented by special collections of woods (ca. 200 accessions) and mosses (ca. 100 accessions).
A second focus of the collection activities is the archiving of archaeobotanical remains from ÖAI excavations in Austria and abroad, as well as to a limited extent from other institutions, provided that the storage guidelines do not prevent this.
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Pottery/clay/mortar Collection
In ceramic studies, reference collections are essential for provenance determinations and technological comparisons. Our collection includes both processed and unprocessed materials, as well as associated data. Materials comprise sherds―also powdered or embedded in resin―clay samples, thin sections, and test briquettes. Data primarily derive from geochemical, petrographic and mineralogical analyses conducted over several decades. The collection covers a timeframe from the Neolithic up to Medieval period and a geographical area stretching from the Western Mediterranean up to Southwestern Asia. Currently, we have the largest collections of ancient ceramics and raw materials from Asia Minor. Assemblages from Austria, Italy, and ancient Mesopotamia are well represented and constantly growing. All the materials, data, and related archaeological information have been digitized and archived in the software »Axiell Collections«. In addition to management purposes, this database will hopefully serve as a tool for reconstructing the history of archaeometric studies in Austria and for open-access strategies.
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Lithic Collection
The focus of this collection is on raw material and rock samples from the catchment area of the eastern Mediterranean to the Alpine region. The time frame ranges from the Palaeolithic to the Anatolian Neolithic and the modern period. The collection is primarily focussed on siliceous raw materials, but also includes samples of rocks that were used for the manufacture of tools, utensils and decorative objects. The inventory is constantly being expanded as part of active research projects and offers international collaboration partners the opportunity to work with the materials on site.
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Collection of Marble
To pinpoint the origin of marble, it is crucial to be acquainted with potential extraction and production areas and to gather a comprehensive set of characteristics unique to each region. Through statistical comparison, the unknown marble can be confidently identified by matching it with the distinct characteristics of a specific extraction area.
Constructing a database requires a comprehensive characterisation of marble at quarry sites, achieved through two distinct stages. The first stage involves thoroughly sampling the source, ensuring an adequate representation of all potential variations such as colour, crystallinity, etc. The subsequent stage includes selecting the physicochemical parameters to be extracted from the samples and defining the characteristics of the marble at the sites based on the techniques for their measurement.
A large database of the most important quarries of antiquity was used for the statistical comparison, combined with the extensive collection and analysis of the new quarries. Currently, the marble collection consists of samples from various OeAI projects and the generous donations of W. Prochaska, D. Attanasio, and L. Moens.
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Vasiliki Anevlavi, Walter Prochaska
Osteological Reference Collection
For osteological identification work, not only of archaeological finds, a comparative collection is indispensable, especially for archaeozoologists who are still learning. The OeAI's osteological reference collection is partly the result of cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, and our own collecting and preparation activities.
The majority of the animal skeletons are of Central European and Mediterranean genera and species. A total of over 200 terrestrial vertebrate skeletons are available, consisting of 126 mammal skeletons from cattle to house mice, over 70 bird skeletons and several reptile skeletons. The osteological comparative collection is supplemented by over 750 skeletons of various freshwater and marine fish.
A similar comparative collection was also built up for the research in Ephesus and is located in the excavation house of the OeAI.
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