In accordance with Resolution No. 792 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated September 21, 2019, "On the Fundamental Improvement of Archaeological Research," the National Archaeological Center was established. Following this resolution, at the end of 2019, Uzbekistan’s first Bioarchaeology Laboratory, equipped with modern instruments and technologies, was founded. Bioarchaeology, which emerges from the synthesis of disciplines such as biology, archaeology, botany, zoology, and human anatomy, extensively utilizes contemporary methods from both natural and social sciences. More specifically, bioarchaeology is a field dedicated to studying human remains and any biological materials recovered from archaeological sites.
The laboratory processes both material (physical) and digital data, including paleoanthropological, archaeozoological, and archaeobotanical remains, as well as soil, charcoal, and wooden samples (tree rings) obtained from archaeological excavations.
Objectives of the Laboratory
The primary goal of the Bioarchaeology Laboratory is to reconstruct the past lifestyle of ancient populations through osteoarchaeological, archaeobotanical, archaeozoological, and biochemical analyses, while also interpreting the subsistence strategies of early inhabitants.
Key Tasks of the Laboratory
Development and Future Plans
Scientific research in the Bioarchaeology Laboratory is conducted in close integration with both archaeology and natural sciences. Currently, efforts are focused on: