Dr. Barbara Huber Awarded GNAA Science Award 2025 for Excellence in Archaeological Science and Archaeometry

The Society for Archaeological Science and Archaeometry (Gesellschaft für Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie ARCHAEOMETRIE e.V., GNAA) has granted the GNAA Science Award 2025 to Dr. Barbara Huber in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of archaeological science and archaeometry.

Dr. Huber received the award for her pioneering work in biomolecular archaeology, particularly her research on the identification of organic residues in archaeological contexts. Through cutting-edge chemical and metabolomic analysis, her research has provided groundbreaking insights into the role of scents, resins, spices, and plant-based substances in ancient societies. Her work has illuminated key aspects of mummification practices, the aromatic trade and long-distance connectivity, as well as medicinal traditions of past civilizations—bridging the gap between scientific methodologies and cultural heritage studies.

The award underscores the importance of integrating scientific techniques with theoretical and practical aspects of cultural heritage research, advancing our understanding of human history. The official award ceremony took place on March 20, 2025, in Dresden, during the Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege conference, where Dr. Huber delivered a keynote lecture presenting her latest research findings. The laudatory speech was given by Dr. Christoph Berthold from GNAA.