University of Northern Iowa - Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
UNI Archaeometry & Geochemsitry of the Land Lab
Archaeometry applies a variety of analytical techniques and scientific knowledge to archaeological excavations, materials and surveys. Our research characterizes and interprets the dynamic interrelationships between landscapes and humanity. An understanding of geologic processes and history provides a vital foundation when investigating complex environmental systems.
Research areas: Geologic fieldwork/mapping, Landscape evolution, materials characterization (pottery, sediment and stone), Soil productivity and Climate Resilience, Watershed Analyses
PEOPLE
Lab director – Chad Heinzel, Ph.D. The overall goal of my teaching, research and service seeks to understand and communicate the interrelationships between human civilizations and their environments (landscapes/soils). I seek to discover and characterize these human/environmental connections, I use and collaborate with multiple scientific disciplines (archaeology, biology, climate, and my specialty geology). It is my hope that by effectively quantifying and communicating the environmental successes and failures of past civilizations, we can strengthen/improve our own interactions/relationships with the Earth's dynamic environments.
Steve Smith – Lab Technician
Undergraduate scientists 2023-2025
Avery Merkley - USGS EDMAP, Fulton Quadrangle, Field and Labwork
Starr Claussen - USGS EDMAP, Fulton Quadrangle, Field and Labwork
Sage Cappi - USGS EDMAP, Fulton Quadrangle, Field and Labwork
Sam Kern - Archaeometry of Moraccan Artifacts
Connor Harms - Watershed Analysis of Catfish Creek Dubuque County, Iowa
Katelyn Boege - Olivine mineralogy of the Nickel Lake Microdike, Northern Minnesota
Analytical equipment
Field: AMS Bucket Auger, Soil Probes, Soil Description Kits w/Munsell books and Capsure tool, DJI Quadcopters (Mavic2Pro, Air2S and MiniPro3), Stream velocity meters (Swoffer Model 3100), Trimble Geo7X, GeoXH, Recon, and 40 Juno SBs, Research Kayak with DepthFinder, Water chemistry probes and trolling motor
Fulton Quadrangle, Jackson County, Iowa, North Fork of the Maquoketa River Floodplain with adjacent loess uplands, EDMAP 2023/24.
Lab: ICP-MS (Thermo-Fisher - ICAP-RQ), XRF (Bruker - Jaguar S6 and Tracer 5), XRD (Bruker Eco-D8), CEM Mars 6 Digestion Microwave, Nikon and Lecia Petrographic Microscopes w/cameras, Piette and Sieve Soil Partical-Size Analysis, Frantz Magnetic Barrier Separator and LST liquid separation for Heavy mineral analyses
RESEARCH
Seeberger Rock Shelter, Jackson County, Iowa
PUBLICATIONS
United State Geological Survey EDMAP products
Western Sicily
LAB NEWS
Fall Fieldwork continues in Jackson County.
