Head: Prof. Marta Osypińska, PhD

About the laboratory

Since 2023, the Archaeozoological Laboratory has been operating at the Institute of Archaeology, University of Wrocław. It boasts an ever-expanding reference osteological collection, which includes skeletons of both domesticated and wild animals from Europe (Poland, Czechia), Africa (Sudan, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia), and Asia (Mongolia, India).

The laboratory’s resources also include replicas of the human skeleton and a collection of hominid skull replicas. The laboratory conducts archaeozoological research on animal remains from excavations in Poland, Africa, and Asia. It also offers archaeozoological analyses of animal remains from both commercial and non-commercial investigations.

The laboratory also conducts archaeological experiments as part of undergraduate and master’s thesis projects, including the mummification of cat remains according to ancient Egyptian standards, the softening of antlers and bones, and the production of bone tools.

The reference collections are used for teaching purposes in courses for students of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wrocław, including classes such as Introduction to Archaeozoology, Bioarchaeology, and Methodology of Bone Artefacts.