Bonfire Shelter
Val Verde County, TX
Welcome to the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory!
TARL's Mission:
To collect, preserve, and curate archeological specimens and records. The lab also trains students, conducts archeological research and disseminates information about Texas' vast archeological legacy.
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We are currently processing Fall 2022 volunteers and interns applications. Please check back in mid-October for Spring 2023 appointments here.
Texas Archeology Month
Every October, we celebrate the vast and rich history of Texas archeology. Our state is diverse not only in its climates and landscapes, but also its peoples and their cultures. Follow the link below to view our past archeological activities, and check back here Fall 2022 for updates on new events and kits!
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Looking to curate at TARL?
The TARL repository currently accepts a variety of collections and records for curation. These artifacts are stored in our state of the art facilities, for a fee. Click below for further information and instructions on how to proceed.
TARL Store
Check out our new TARL online store to pay invoicing, purchase merchandising, memberships, and much more!
New TBH Exhibit: Radiocarbon Dating
The radiocarbon dating method, the most relied-upon scientific dating tool used in archeology today, estimates the ages of organic materials—wood charcoal, bones, basketry, and much more. The dawn of radiocarbon dating in the late 1940s and 1950s upset archeological chronologies around the world; time and time again, things and cultures proved to be older (or younger) than experts had reasoned. Today’s archeologists routinely send off samples to be dated, yet radiocarbon dating methods remain poorly understood by many archeologists, avocational and professional alike. This exhibit explains the intricacies of radiocarbon dating to serious students of archeology and science lovers to help guide the wielding of this powerful tool.
Archeologist and TBH Assistant Editor Emily McCuistion wrote the Radiocarbon Dating exhibit. Emily and TBH Editor Steve Black designed and developed the exhibit for the web, with assistance from Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services (LAITS) at UT-Austin. E. Thomas Miller of Kerrville, Texas bequeathed support for this exhibit.
