New methods in the analysis of asphalt by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) are described. The evaporative analyser and viscometric detectors provide a more nearly universal response in SEC than does the UV detector; a number of alternatives to polystyrene as retention volume calibration standards were investigated. SFC permitted simulated distillation at much lower temperatures than in GC, with closer correspondence to actual distillation behaviour