Holland Lithic Reference Laboratory Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo, New York, USA 14211 Ph: 716-896-5200 x381    Fax: 716-897-6723    URL: http://www.sciencebuff.org

Based at the Buffalo Museum of Science, in western New York state, the laboratory houses an extensive comparative collection of well- provenienced geological samples of over 3000 lithic material types known to have been used prehistorically throughout North America. Maps and relevant literature are also on hand. The laboratory has been assembled through the efforts of John Holland and colleagues over the last decade. Most of the samples have been personally collected at outcrops.

Services include reciprocal sharing of samples, research access to the collections, as well as joint research projects. Current research includes development of a master database of the collection, a directory of other lithic laboratories and collections, ultraviolet fluorescence characterization (see Jarvis manuscript), and a thesaurus of names which have been associated with each type of lithic material. The laboratory is affiliated with the NorthEast Lithic Database Project. Future plans include computer mapping projects, thermal alteration and full petrographic studies of all materials.

The laboratory requests information regarding well provenienced samples from any individuals who have collections or access to lithic resources. Please contact the director, John D. Holland <Jackchert@aol.com> by email or the address listed above.

Also, if you are interested in archaeological lithics, stone tools, etc., you might want to check out the "lithics site"...!

Hosted by the Anthropology Department & the F.M. Houghton Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association. Web support by <hjarvis at buffalo.edu>. Last modified: July 27, 2000