For planning the Rathgen Research Laboratory, all important laboratories for archaeometry have been asked by questionnaire about their equip-ment and organization. The largest of the laboratories in Europe and the U.S.A. have been visited. The results of the questionnaire and visits are described. Large museums need a laboratory for research as well as for the various types of routine anaayticaa work. For smaller museums, the Intermuseum Laboratory is more effective. The actual state of archaeometry is demonstrated by analyzing the scientific literature which has appeared about this subject during the last years.