Santa Clara University

Support Facilities

Although formally independent from the Department of Anthropology, Santa Clara University's Archaeology Research Lab (ARL) has close links to the Anthropology Department. The archaeology laboratory was developed to oversee the University’s rich buried past. This buried legacy includes evidence of the Native American, Spanish, Mexican and nineteenth century American occupations which has become the Santa Clara University campus. As the University’s cultural resource management office, the ARL consults with University Facilities prior to all construction activities on topics ranging from environmental law and compliance, to the ethical handling of human remains. The ARL provides background documentation and archaeological monitoring and testing for all on-campus construction projects.

Aligned with this cultural resource management function is the curation of artifacts, field notes, maps, photographs, and reports associated with these projects. Additionally, the ARL affords SCU students in a number of anthropology courses (002, 004, 147, 167) and the Archaeology Special Emphasis program “hands-on” experience in the real world of archaeological research.

Housed in the Ricard Observatory, the ARL is the office of the Assistant Campus Archaeologist Ms. Linda Hylkema (408/554-4513).