Animal remains from Fields A and B were analysed on the field and in the house laboratory by Veronica Scandellari. The bones were washed, restored, photographed and then recognised by direct observation (E. Schmidt, “Atlas of Animal Bones for Prehistorians, Archaeologists and Quaternary Geologists”, Amsterdam-London-New York, 1972), paying special attention to the possible presence of cut and bite marks on their surface, with the aim of recognising traces of anthropic activity. When possible, measurements were taken using the common guide edited by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (Angela Von Den Driesch, “A guide to the measurement of animal bones from archaeological sites”, Peabody Museum Bulletins, 1, Harvard University, 1976); for teeth finds, special analysis regarding the dental wear stage were made in order to identify the animal's class age at death, using Annie Grant’s method, as displayed in Simon Hillson, Teeth – Cambridge Manual of Archaeology ed. by G. Barker, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
    In general, the samples collected gave huge amounts of fragments of size varying between very small to medium/large, and covering different stages of preservation, an especially interesting assemblage of animal bones being represented by the successive fillings of space 1630 in quadrants 097.100d, 097.099c, of the LB period. The surface of the bones is generally very eroded, and shows wide crackings due to high weathering incidence on the preservation. Anyway, almost from every sample it was possible to recognise and determine an high percentage of the findings and to understand age, size (and possibly sex) of the individuals at the moment of death. This will allow to reconstruct patterns of animals distribution and use at the site in the different periods.
     Preliminary faunal analysis revealed the presence of the most common domestic species of the area (Ovis/Capra, Bos, Sus) joined by rare cases of less usual or exceptional animals (Cervus, Canis, Lepus, Equus, rodents - Mus/Sorex and Castor-, birds, in particular Cygnus, Ardea, Anas, and fish). The presence of the various species ordered by numerical representation is the following: Ovis/Capra, Sus, Bos, Cervus Lupus, Rodents, Equus, Birds, Fish, Lepus, Rana, Castor.
    According to the first impressions from this season finds, animals (both domestic and wild species) were present at the site in a very high quantities. The considerable presence of fish bones in the archaeological record reveals that the river Prone was an important source of food for the site's population and played an important role on its development.
     Palaeobotanical remains from Field A and B were collected by both dry-sieving and flotation and delivered to dr. Nana Rusishvili (GNM) who will analyse them in Tbilisi. Unfortunately, contrary to the 2013 season, the amount of seeds recovered this year at Aradetis Orgora was not large, and their preservation state was rather poor. Sequences of samples for palinological analyses were collected from the sections of the two excavation fields and delivered to Dr. Eliso Kvavadze (GNM), who will take care of their analysis. Charcoaled wooden beams and other kind of charcoaled fragments were sampled by Veronica Scandellari in order to recognise the plants used for buildings and fuel, with the aim to reconstruct the environment around the site.
     Due to the very favourable conditions of the encountered anthropic deposits (recovery of well stratified undisturbed contexts in all excavated areas), this year sampling especially concentrated on soil micromorphology analysis, which represents a powerful tool to highlight traces of human activity (including ash, phytoliths, dung remains, trampling, etc.) by sediments analysis of floor sequences etc. at a microscopic level,. The use at Aradetis Orgora of this analysis technique had been initiated in 2013 by prof. G. Boschian, and was continued this year by Valentina Villa, who collected 40 samples from various contexts of different periods (Early and Late Bronze, Hellenistic) from all excavation fields (A, B, and C). Micromorphological studies, which will be carried out in Italy, will be focused on the sedimentary record of human activities in the site, in order to better understand the stratigraphic sequence, and the site-formation and site-modifying processes. The aim is to recognise specific site-settlement activities to understand the use of the site and of its areas.
    Samples (40 undisturbed monoliths of sediment) were collected on the field during one week, from July 17th to July 25th. Sample localisation was chosen in strict collaboration with the archaeologists, aiming to answer specific questions about the archaeological features and to refine the stratigraphic setting established during excavations; this will assure perfect continuity between macroscopic observation in the field and microscopic studies. Samples were collected from the stratigraphic profiles of trenches and from structures during their excavation. Hearths and burnt layers were sampled in order to understand building techniques, function, type of fuel, and to possibly recognise superimposed phases of re-use.
    Some blocks were collected from floors and occupation surfaces, with the aim of understanding how they were built or prepared. These samples include the layers directly overlying floors, which may contain traces of past human activities and help to infer the use of different areas and the organisation of the settlement. Other installations were sampled in order to understand their function, the composition of their filling and to possibly differentiate their primary purpose from secondary use. Samples of floors, plaster and burnt layers were also collected from the Hellenistic/early Imperial palatial building (Field C).
    During one week at the end of the campaign, Elisabetta Boaretto and Eugenia Mintz continued the programme of intensive sampling for radiometric dating in highly controlled environment, by taking samples from different periods and contexts in Fields A, B, and C. Finally, we took samples for archaeometric analysis of pottery and obsidian samples of the different phases of the Late Bronze and of the Early Bronze (Kura-Araxes) periods, which will be analysed in Italy (persons in charge profs. D. Visonà, University of Padua, prof. L. Lazzarini, IUAV University of Venice), and respectively in France (person in charge dr. B. Gratuze, CNRS Bordeaux).
    In the perspective of developing a long-term project of palaeoenvironmental research of the Aradetis Orgora site, samples collection was extended to the Hellenistic palace excavation as well, in order to get a complete record of all the site's occupational phases. In particular, Elisabetta Boaretto and Eugenia Mintz (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) took samples from the altar in Room no. 20, and also sampled a wooden beam for dendrochronological dating. Cereals found in Room no. 21 have been sampled for radiocarbon dating, and bones discovered behind the oven (the rib of a sheep, fish bones) have also been analysed. Finally, samples for palaeobotanic and palinological analyses were also taken from Field C.