The archaeo­zoo­lo­gy plat­form is a ser­vice pro­vi­ded by the SISKA for spe­leo­lo­gists and spe­cia­list ser­vices in the can­tons. Its aim is to faci­li­tate infor­ma­tion sha­ring bet­ween those invol­ved in bone finds, those res­pon­sible for pro­tec­ting geo­topes, resear­chers and cura­tors of palaeon­to­lo­gi­cal col­lec­tions. The first objec­tive of the plat­form is to ensure the cor­rect iden­ti­fi­ca­tion of remains dis­co­ve­red in caves and to pro­vide a report to the dis­co­ve­rers. The second objec­tive is to ensure the long-term conser­va­tion of these dis­co­ve­ries and to record them in a data­base. The third objec­tive is to enhance the value of dis­co­ve­ries of heri­tage inter­est through radio­car­bon dating, spe­cia­li­sed stu­dies and scien­ti­fic publi­ca­tions that make the results avai­lable to resear­chers.

The plat­form publishes a trien­nial news­let­ter that serves as a liai­son and infor­ma­tion exchange bet­ween spe­leo­lo­gists and spe­cia­list ser­vices. The plat­form’s acti­vi­ties are sup­por­ted by the Scien­ti­fic Spe­leo­lo­gy Com­mis­sion of the Swiss Aca­de­my of Natu­ral Sciences (scnat) and are part of the natio­nal pro­gramme for the conser­va­tion of spe­leo­lo­gi­cal and karst heri­tage sup­por­ted by the FOEN.