IRLAB is a non-profit organization established to promote the advancement and diffusion of archaeological and bioarchaeological knowledge through research and education.

In practical terms, our goal is that of exploring and reconstructing the human past by excavating ancient settlements and studying what our predecessors left behind, from material culture to skeletal remains. At the same time we plan to investigate the environment in which these anthropic evidences are contextualized by means of surface archaeological surveys, as well as topographic and systematic field surveys. We believe that, to understand the human condition across time and space, it is necessary to study past populations directly within their archaeological context. Indeed, only by combining archaeological survey, excavation, and laboratory analyses can we gain a holistic appreciation for the multidimensional eco-bio-cultural world experienced by humans in the past.

One of our main objectives is to provide university students and professional researchers with multiple opportunities to receive a broad-spectrum training. To this end, we have an ongoing commitment to creating multidisciplinary, practical field schools, theoretical courses, and both introductory and advanced classes on a variety of topics within the discipline.
At the same time we continuously strive to produce concrete results, to be made known to the public through scientific and academic publications, as well as media disclosure through new means of communication. Hence, developing enduring partnerships with academic institutions and universities, as well as with governmental agencies and public associations, is one of the core principles of our Institute.

In sum, our educational, excavation, and research projects aim at increasing our knowledge of past populations across time and space, while sensitizing future generations to the importance of understanding our past and ultimately what it means to be human.