Pricing

Our pricing is broken down into four broad categories (rates for samples from outside New Zealand in USD):

1. Analysis of plant microfossils in archaeological deposits, per sample:

   e.g. soils, buried living surfaces, earth ovens, tools, potsherds, coprolites, latrines

   pollen:

   150 counted, slides scanned and types not recorded in count noted

   phytoliths:

   150 counted, slides scanned and types not recorded in count noted

   starch and other plant material:

   starch grains, calcium oxalate crystals, xylem; volumetric concentrations

   Cost per sample:

   One of the three analyses:

   $315 ($255 USD)

   Two of the three analyses:

   $440 ($355 USD)

   All three analyses:

   $525 ($420 USD)

   For suspected gardening or food preparation areas, all three analyses per sample are recommended because the three types of microfossils have differential preservation, and different species of plants have differential production of these microparts.

   Recommended sample size:

   small handful — to matchbox-size

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2. Pollen analysis of sediment profiles from wetlands to provide progressive vegetational/environmental histories:

   $150 — $200 ($120 — $160 USD) per sample, depending on number of samples; 200 or 250 pollen grains per sample counted

   Recommended minimum sample size:

   1-7cc — the larger volume required for less organic samples (e.g. sandy/clayey)

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3. Fieldwork:

   $500 ($400 USD) per day (excludes travel, meals, accommodation and freight). Hand sampling equipment included:

   • auger
   • gouger
   • D-section corer

   Vibra-corer available at additional cost. Travel costs at $1/km if using our own vehicle.

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4. Forensics:

   For assisting to prove or disprove a link between people and objects with places or with other people, we provide analysis of pollen (and other plant material) on or in:

   • soil - includes sand and clay
   • clothing and other fabrics – any woven materials e.g. clothes, bedding, curtains, wrappings, sacking, bags, baskets; also items made of animal hides e.g. leather, suede, fur clothing
   • footwear
   • twine and rope
   • air filters – vehicles, buildings
   • firearms and tools
   • powders, crystals and other granulated materials - includes illicit drugs e.g. heroin, cocaine
   • cannabis – includes unprocessed material (buds, leaves) and processed material (hash oil, buddha sticks)
   • other plant material – includes unprocessed plant material, and processed food and other material e.g. honey and tobacco
   • human and other animal material - includes hair, fur, feathers, mucus, stomach contents, fecal material

   Cost of scene investigation/analysis/court appearances is $150 ($120 USD) per hour. Contact us for an estimate – this will depend on number and type of samples.

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5. Identification of Stachybotrys mould spores in leaky buildings:

   For each report, $100 ($80 USD) for the first sample and $50 ($40 USD) for each sample thereafter.

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Prices include:

Detailed report of results for each job, including:

• evidence of any subsistence crops in the samples (archaeol., veg. hist.)
• vegetational/environmental interpretation of the site/region (archaeol., veg. hist.)
• clear statement of strength of evidence in language for non-scientists (forensic)

• subsequent expansion of results, including photomicrographs of plant material, for inclusion in any refereed publications with analyst as co-author

  Please contact us before sending samples from outside New Zealand - we need to first email you a copy of our sample import permit to include in the package

  All prices are in New Zealand dollars and exclusive of GST unless otherwise marked. Prices are subject to change without notice — contact us to confirm costs.