The field of ancient biomolecules is developing at an extremely rapid rate, and continues to contribute to our understanding of the past. In addition to being a vibrant, collaborative research environment, it is also one of the most media- and public-friendly areas of scientific research. Rarely a month goes by without seeing the release of high-impact publications in top-tier journals, often accompanied by global coverage in the popular press. After highly successful meetings in Amsterdam (2004), Stockholm (2006) and York (2008), the Fourth International Symposium on Biomolecular Archaeology hopes to continue on these successes when it is held in Copenhagen, between the 7th and 11th September, 2010.