Research Description
The Geo-SWAP Lab serves three main functions: a) artifacts analysis (especially lithics) from archaeological excavations conducted by Maher and her students, predominantly in Southwest Asia, b) geoarchaeological & micromorphological analysis of soils and sediments from archaeological sites in Southwest Asia, Asia and North America, and c) a space for conducting experimental archaeology (stone tool production) and the training of graduate and undergraduate students in lithic technology through an extensive archaeological and experimental teaching collection housed in this lab.
The lab also contains several light microscopy stations for the analysis of archaeological soils and sediments to elucidate human activities, reconstruct palaeoenvironments, and understand archaeological site formation processes at the macro- and micro-scales.