Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a powerful tool to identify mineral assemblages in the archaeological record and to provide an assessment of the preservation state of different types of materials. Only a few milligrams of sediment are needed per sample and from collecting the sample to obtaining results no more than ten minutes pass. The new generation of FTIR instruments are compact and robust, so it is possible to take them to the field and obtain high-resolution data in real time. FTIR allows detecting the presence of ashes, plaster, heated clay, or burnt bones among other elements of the archaeological record. FTIR can be coupled to a microscope (micro-FTIR) permitting the visual and chemical identification of microscopic remains.