Organic remains are commonly found in various contexts, including:

• Preserved in visible remains: Organic materials can be preserved as visible archaeological remains, and the analysis of these can provide insights into their biological origin and how they have been treated.
• Encased in ceramics: Organic residues can be found encapsulated within ceramic artefacts. Analysing these ceramics can answer questions about what was heat-treated or stored in ceramic vessels, even if no visible traces from cooking remain in the ceramics.
• Bound to soil: Organic remains bound to soil can provide valuable information about the delineation of settlement areas and the interpretation of features whose functions are otherwise difficult to discern.

To prevent contamination, it is crucial to avoid touching tools, samples, or the inside of plastic bags without using gloves. It is advisable to use gloves during sample collection, and tools should be cleaned between each sample.

For soil samples from archaeological contexts, approximately 1-1.5 decilitres are needed per sample. These samples should be wrapped in aluminium foil before placing them in plastic bags. Store the samples in a dry and cool place. Alternatively, freeze them as quickly as possible and store them in a dark environment. Don't forget to collect reference samples from areas outside the area of interest.

When dealing with ceramic sherds, wrap them in aluminium foil before placing them in plastic bags. It's preferred to send a whole sherd for sampling in the laboratory. The sherd should be at least 30x30 mm, and it's advantageous if it comes from the vessel's rim. Keep in mind that the sampling process is destructive, so documenting objects before sending them to AFL is recommended. Please ensure each sherd submitted enable us to remove a quantity between 0.5 and 1 gram.