Laboratories

The SDS team is proud to say that they are one of the few teams worldwide to use a cleanroom while in the field. This one-of-a-kind mobile cleanroom moves with the team, and allows for the control of modern contaminants as soon as materials are excavated. The unit consists of an aluminum frame encased by a heavy-duty canvas, along with two air filtration components. The first component removes large particulates, and the second filter, a HEPA purifier, acts as both a pump and filtration system, filtering out particles less than one micrometer in size. Like the Tropical Archaeology Lab at the University of Calgary, the unit is also separated into separate rooms: first is a gowning room where excavators change into clean room attire, and; second is the excavation zone, which accommodates a 3x3m archaeological trench.