During the Iron Age, red corals (Corallium rubrum) were the most frequent imported object type from the Mediterranean area into the Celtic world. The density and the distinct patterns of their distribution are perfectly suited for the study of intra-European cultural contacts and trade relations due to their long-term importation.Despite the 130-year-old history of research on prehistoric corals, there have been hardly any extensive study. One reason for this limited interest is that corals lose their intense red colour and shiny surface structure due to poorly understood ageing processes. Hence, other light-coloured materials such as bone, ivory, chalk or shells, which were also used to decorate jewellery, are often mistaken for corals.We propose a multi-stage approach to identify red corals and light bio-minerals with emphasis on digital microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The instruments are portable and can therefore be used directly in the museums, allowing a very efcient work ow thanks to a high identication rate while saving time.