The chemical characterization of organic residues found in association with ceramic vessels can provide direct information on original vessel use and on diet and cooking practices of people in the past. Volatile, non-chemically bound classes of compounds such a lipids and terpenoids have been analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Non-destructive techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spetroscopy (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have been used to characterize materials based on the absence or presence of functional groups. More destructive techniques have been employed to fragment the condensed macromolecular matrix by partial hydrolysis or analytical pyrolysis. A review is presented of the possibilities and limitations of various analytical techniques. The application of organic residue analysis in ceramic studies raises many questions concerning conservation treatment of ceramics during and after excavation, as well as the long-term storage of ceramic vessels. Ceramics that may contain original organic residues should be treated as organic-inorganic composites rather than as exclusively inorganic materials. In this paper an organic residue preservation protocol is presented for conservation in the field, and sampling strategies are discussed. -- ICCROM