The use of soil micromorphology as a means to understanding the micro-details of environmental landscape development studies and human impact and settlement studies, has been refined over the last twenty years and accepted as a valuable ‘tool’ in the field of Geoarchaeology. Archaeologists are now able to capture and define the minute details of soil and sediment stratigraphy such as separate ‘seasonal rainfall events’ or ‘the preparation and cleanliness of a household floor’ in the past. The art of thin-sectioning is central to this task.

Thin-sectioning is a labour intensive practice. There are very few laboratories able to take on commercial work in the UK, and all of these are connected to University facilities with research and teaching commitments. My laboratory is the first dedicated freelance business to be able to offer a thin-section service externally to the academic community. My prices are competitive and extremely reasonable, and the professional quality of my thin-sections have been given praise by those that work in the field.

Over the years, I have worked with many soils, sediments, and archaeological materials. This experience has gained me confidence and expertise in:

• Organics (peats and wet sediments)
• Clays
• Composite soils and sediment
• Sedimentary rocks (chalk and limestone)
• Pottery, bone, shell, charcoals, and wood
• Forensic cases
  

I can offer acetone replacement of water in soils and sediments. I mainly work with a clear crystic polyester resin, which offers extreme clarity under the microscope. I will be running experiments on organic soils and sediments with different types of  resins. Those that work in the field know that organics are particularly difficult to impregnate, and there might be a more suitable resin on the market that can answer these problems. My thin-section machine of choice is supplied by G. Brot Technologies, in France. Over the years, I have a developed a long and valued friendship with the company. You can read more about this in my 'Product History' section.

I invite new research, and I'm very willing to be challenged with new materials, new methodologies, and new ideas. Please feel free to send me comments and questions, which I can include and make available on the 'Bulletin Board'.