Preface

This special issue of the Supplementary Series of the Estonian Journal of Archaeology is one of the outcomes of the "PaleoMIX: Nurturing Heritage Science with Novel Bioarchaeological Methods in the Eastern Baltics" project.The project was led by the University of Tartu in partnership with the University of York, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Burgos.Its aim was to establish Tartu as a regional hub for tangible heritage studies, where biomolecular archaeology is integrated with strong archaeological interpretation.The PaleoMIX project represented an important step towards creating a more inclusive and democratic landscape in biomolecular archaeology by linking the humanities and natural sciences and encouraging collaboration between researchers in the Eastern Baltic and Western Europe.By sharing knowledge, methods, and skills, the project established the University of Tartu as a research and innovation hub in biomolecular archaeology, bringing together archaeologists, geneticists, chemists, and other specialists, while making new analytical techniques and equipment available locally.Rather than presenting research results from the PaleoMIX project, this special issue takes a more reflective approach, bringing together three contributions that highlight the wider context and practices of archaeological and biomolecular research in the Baltic region.The first article, by Ester Oras, provides an overview of the development of biomolecular archaeology in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, outlining the field's history and its current state.It also discusses key trends in the integration of biomolecular methods into archaeological research and reflects on the opportunities and challenges faced by smaller research communities, showing how such contexts can support the development of good scientific practice and more inclusive (DEI-oriented) approaches.The second article, written by Silvia-Kristiin Kask, Eve Rannamäe, and Mari Tõrv, presents a code of good practice for the invasive sampling of heritage objects and demonstrates the process through which this code was developed.It addresses the growing use of biomolecular methods, which often require sampling, and highlights the need for ethical and sustainable research.The paper proposes a framework that balances scientific innovation with the protection of archaeological materials and considers the perspectives of both researchers and heritage stakeholders.