La Trobe University > Department of Archaeology and History > Facilities and resources

Facilities and resources

Archaeology

Laboratories

  • The Australian Archaeomagnetism Laboratory (TAAL)

    Built in 2012 'The Australian Archaeomagnetism Laboratory' (TAAL) is a purpose built archaeological geophysics and archaeomagnetic research and teaching laboratory specifically designed for work on archaeological and fossil bearing sites as part of the development of archaeological science, archaeometry and geoarchaeological research and teaching within Archaeology at La Trobe. TAAL has a focus on human origins research (geochronology, ancient environments, pyrotechnology) & the development of the South East Australian Archaeomagnetic Reference Curve (SEAARC). However, the lab is also working on mediaeval, Chrarcolithic, Bronze age and historical period sites. The lab has a global reach working on sites in Australia, China, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
    Please contact Prof. Andy Herries for more information

  • Geoarchaeology Laboratory:

    The Geoarchaeology Laboratory at La Trobe University consists of a rock preparation facility and microscope lab for undertaking micromorphological and petrographic analysis

    For further information please Prof Andy Herries


  • The Molecular Archaeology (Ancient Diet) Laboratory:

    The Molecular Archaeology Laboratory at La Trobe University is dedicated to the analysis of ancient biomolecules, in order to obtain archaeological information.
    The quarantine approved laboratory, housed in the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Sciences (LIMS), contains wet chemical preparation areas for extraction and purification of ancient proteins such as bone collagen, hair keratin, muscle, skin. The facilities available include a fumehood, centrifuges, heating blocks, -80°C freezer, freeze drier, rotary vacuum desiccator and a microbalance.
    The lab also runs a Thermo Scientific (LC-Isolink) Liquid Chromatography Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (LC-IRMS) housed in the LIMS equipment suite. The LC-IRMS is dedicated to analysis of stable isotope ratios of carbon in amino acids as a means of obtaining in depth palaeodietary information. We have also applied the technique to other materials such as stalagmites and corals.

    For further information please contact Dr Colin Smith


  • Ancient Environments (Pollen) Laboratory

    Completed in 2019, the Pollen Lab is equipped to extract pollen from archaeological sediments, for analysis under high-powered microscopes. Palynology (pollen analysis) allows us to reconstruct how vegetation communities changed through time - which can be used as a direct proxy for climate (primarily temperature and precipitation).

    • For further information please contact Dr Matt Meredith-Williams


  • TARDIS (Teaching Archaeological Research Discipline in Simulation)

    • Since 2009, La Trobe has offered undergraduate archaeology students the chance to gain practical experience in excavating an artificial site on the Bundoora campus.
    The project – known as TARDIS (Teaching Archaeological Research Discipline In Simulation) – uses an artificial site with a series of scenarios from various times and places in the past which students excavate. The TARDIS has seven layers, with Historical Australia at the top, followed by Mayan Mesoamerica, Bronze Age Cyprus, Neolithic China, Natufian Jordan, Indigenous Pleistocene Australia, and Plio-Pleistocene Africa.

    For  access to laboratory equipment contact lab head or Archaeology Research Partnerships (external)

Field Equipment

  • Ground Penetrating Radar
  • pXRD & pXRF
  • Gradiometry & Magnetic Susceptibility
  • Artec Space Spider & Eva Scanners
  • Leica MS50 Laser Scanning Multi Station
  • Leica Total Stations, DGPS & survey equipment
For  access to equipment contact Paul Penzo-Kajewski (internal) or Archaeology Research Partnerships (external)

Research Databases

Comparative Teaching & Research Collections

  • Australian Zooarchaeology Comparative Collection
  • Hominin cast collection
  • Stone Tool Collections
  • Historical Artefact Collections
  • Raw Material Collections

Social Media

History

Local histories

Social media

History Facebook page

The Facebook page for the La Trobe University History Program provides updates on the latest news, events and all things LTU History!

Twitter handles

  • La Trobe Uni History @latrobehistory
  • Ruth Gamble @WaterThe_Planet
  • Jayne Rantall @JayneRantall
  • Yves Rees @YvesRees
  • Dr Emma Robertson @chochistory
  • Dr Clare Wright @clareawright

Television

  • Clare Wright

    • One-Plus-One (ABC)
    • The War that Changed Us (ABC)
      Created and cowritten by Clare Wright.
      Nominated for Logie for Best Factual Program 2015.
      Nominated for ATOM Award for Best Docudrama 2015.
    • Utopia Girls: How Women Won the Vote (ABC)
      Written and presented by Clare Wright.
      Shortlisted for NSW Premiers History Award for Best Multimedia.

  • Alex McDermott's 'Australia: The story of us' (Yahoo TV)

    LTU History Postgraduate Alex McDermott is the Senior Researcher and Associate Producer for Channel 7's blockbuster history documentary series AUSTRALIA: THE STORY OF US. The first episode went to air last night. John Hirst wrote some of the scripts and Clare Wright appears as an expert interview in some of the episodes. Our Postgraduates Kate Laing and Nicole Curby also worked as researchers on the series.
    Here's what Fairfax television critic Melinda Houston said:
    "The Story of Us takes key moments and characters from Australian history to tell the story of the nation. It is not a professorial piece of work, but it does not pretend to be. It's a rollicking yarn built on solid fact and, by that measure, it works splendidly."

Audio links

Podcasts

Commentary

Video links

ILAS

Websites