What needs to be clarified
The analysis could identify available diagnostic features and assess whether comparison with a proposed source is feasible.
Materials to prepare
- Packaging and fragments with a description of preservation conditions.
- Photographs of their location and information about opening, storage and movement.
- Material documents and comparison samples of verified origin.
What to compare
- Preservation, uniformity and sufficiency of the material.
- Signs of possible biological and plant origin.
- Similarities to samples and possible external contamination.
Possible outcome of the analysis
A possible output is a description of examined features, the level at which the object may be classified and how well a comparison with particular samples is supported.
Limits of the conclusions
A photograph may be insufficient to determine a fragment’s nature; similarity to a sample does not establish a unique source, time of entry or food safety of the contents.