Deals with the analysis of sediments, soils and weathering products to reconstruct the environment of the Quaternary period. Not only does it cover all physical and chemical laboratory techniques but it also describes the use of required equipment, the evaluation of both strengths and weaknesses of each technique and how to get and interpret results. The application of each method in solving particular geological problems is stressed. Case studies, diagrams and full biographies provide the reader with further information. (view table of contents)