These fifteen essays explore the archaeological applications of an exciting new field of research in materials science. Since the first archaeometric uses of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) in the early 1980s, most applications have required the processing of solid samples with heat and/or strong acids. This is time consuming, expensive, and sometimes dangerous. An alternative sample-introduction technique, laser ablation (LA), became commercially available in the mid-1990s. The coupling of laser ablation with state-of-the-art inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometers (ICP-MS) has resulted in the development of extremely sensitive microprobes capable of determining most elements of the periodic table. Already recognized as an invaluable technique in earth sciences, zoology, and botany, the use of LA-ICP-MS is being explored in archaeology. Robert Speakman and Hector Neff bring together writings that specifically describe laser ablation, methods for data quantification, and applications. Originating in New World and Mediterranean sites, the materials whose analysis are described here include paints and glazes, ceramic pastes, lithics, human teeth and bone, and metals. Contributors David R. Abbott, Arizona State University, Tempe Ronald L. Bishop, Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education Vera Tiesler Blos, Universidad Autonoma, Yuctan James W. Cogswell, Northland Research, Tempe, Arizona Christina Conlee, University of California, Santa Barbara Andrea Cucina, Universidad Autonoma, Yuctan Benjamin Diebold, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut Michael D. Glascock, University of Missouri, Columbia Brigitte Kovacevich, VanderbiltUniversity, Nashville Daniel Larson, California State University, Long Beach Michael Love, California State University, Northridge Elizabeth J. Miksa, Center for Desert Archaeology, Tucson Michael P. Neeley, Montana State University, Bozeman Axel E. Nielson, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas, Argentina Helen P. Pollard, Michigan State University, East Lansing Rachel Popelka, University of Missouri, Columbia Peter Robertshaw, California State University, San Bernardino Tom Roll, Montana State University, BozemanSachiko Sakai, University of California, Santa Barbara Candace A. Sall, University of Missouri, Columbia Katharina Schreiber, University of California, Santa Barbara Payson Sheets, University of Colorado, BoulderA. Natasha Tabares, Ancient Enterprises, Inc., Santa Monica, California Kevin J. Vaughn, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Marilee Wood, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa Maria Nieves Zedeno, University of Arizona, Tucson