The advantages of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) are well known in the disciplines of soil science, medicine, and chemistry. Through recent research by archaeologists, it has become evident that atomic absorption (AA) instrumentation has many innate advantages over previously utilized techniques; for example, neutron activation. Atomic absorption instrumentation has proven to be inexpensive, flexible, sensitive, and versatile when applied to archaeological materials. Specific AA research projects are discussed as well as the overall benefits of this instrumentation applied to archaeological soils, clays, and ceramics. -- AATA