Dorothy Garrod Laboratory
Facilities
We have the facilities in-house to prepare a wide variety of samples for isotopic analysis. We analyse both human and animal samples, archaeological and modern.
Sample types analysed
- Bone collagen
- Tooth enamel carbonate and phosphate
- Shell carbonate
- Plant organics
- Hair and whisker keratin and other soft tissues
- Blood, serum and plasma
- Faecal and urine samples
Preparation equipment
Freeze-driers, centrifuges, drilling equipment, extraction hoods, oven, hot block Strontium sample preparation is carried out in the clean room facilities in the Dept of Earth Sciences.
Analytical equipment
All isotopic analyses are carried out via collaboration with the Godwin Laboratory, Dept of Earth Sciences. We routinely analyse isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and strontium, and can also measure hydrogen and sulphur.
Mass spectrometers:
- Costech EA coupled to a Finnigan MAT-253 isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometer
- VG PRISM Mass Spectrometer with Multiprep System
- VG SIRA Mass Spectrometer with Multicarb System
- Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer
