Flotation is one of the archaeobotanical sampling techniques used on site to investigate ancient organic remains. Flotation captures small finds including grains, seeds, and charcoal fragments that would normally be missed during low-resolution archaeological excavations.

The floatation system is composed of three vats: A floatation vat – to which the sediment is poured, and two settling vats – which are used to filter the silt from the water and reintroduce the filtered water back into the floatation vat using a bilge pump. 

The organic material is collected in a fine mesh, while the heavy fraction material is collected in a mesh within the floatation tank.   

The system is portable, can be operated without electricity, and recycles the water.