Curt-Engelhorn-Centre Archaeometry gGmbH

The Curt-Engelhorn-Centre for Archaeometry gGmbH is competent in the natural scientific analysis of cultural materials. It collaborates in numerous research projects and provides services for public institutions, companies and private persons. The services include science based analyses aimed at authenticity, absolute dating, material characterization, technology and origin. The Curt-Engelhorn-Centre for Archaeometry gGmbH comprises the Laboratory for Material Analysis and the Klaus-Tschira-Laboratory for Radiometric Dating Methods. With the existing analytical methods, different issues related to authenticity, absolute dating, material characterization, technology and origin can be answered. It also provides services based on its theoretical and methodological expertise to its partners and clients. The close association with the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums in Mannheim provides access to large collections of cultural heritage but CEZA has substantial collections of its own, like the largest collection of metal samples from prehistoric metal objects and other samples related to prehistoric metallurgy from the Ancient World, an associated data base of some 50000 analyses of prehistoric metal objects and one of the largest collections of lead and strontium isotope ratios of archaeological objects. Furthermore, it has a collection of historic textiles, a collection of some 50000 reference wood samples for dendrochronological dating as well as a data base of some 40000 radiocarbon dates.