Erika Ribechini received her PhD in Chemical Sciences in 2006 from the University of Pisa. Since January 2006 she is researcher at the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry of the University of Pisa. Her research activity mainly concerns the development of analytical procedures based on chromatography and mass spectrometry for the study and the characterisation of organic natural substances from archaeological findings and works of art, with specific attention to vegetable oils, plant resins and natural waxes. Her current work also involves the chemical characterisation of archaeological waterlogged wooden artefacts by means of mass spectrometric methods. The main aims of the research can be summarises as follows: to assess the performance of different analytical approaches in the study of archaeological organic residues; to study the alteration processes that have (naturally or anthropogenically) modified the original composition of the materials; to identify the kind of material present in various archaeological objects and consequently, to understand the function of the organic materials.