About ASC

Structure, Objective, and Coordination

The Anthropological Studies Center is composed of the Cultural Resources Facility, the David A. Fredrickson Archaeological Collections Facility, and the Office of Interpretive and Outreach Services

  • The Cultural Resources Facility works on contract to federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as for private organizations and individuals. It contributes to the cost of operating the David A. Fredrickson Archaelogical Collections Facility.

  • The David A. Fredrickson Archaeological Collections Facility houses archaeological materials from northern California as a public service and for scholarly research.

  • The Office of Interpretive and Outreach Services interprets archaeology, history, and the ethnography of native peoples of California to the general public through events, pamphlets, museum displays, videos, and presentations to school groups.

Learn more about the ASC in our Annual Report

ASC truck at Mt St Helena State Park

Mission Statement

Education, Research, and Public Service


The Anthropological Studies Center undertakes activities that benefit the students of Sonoma State University, scholarship in the field of historic preservation, and the community at large. The Center fulfills its threefold mission in education, research, and public service by:

  • Creating the opportunity for SSU students to learn real-world skills in historic preservation through the Center’s professional apprenticeship program;

  • Maintaining an Archaeological Collections Facility in which hundreds of thousands of artifacts are available for students and scholars to study; and

  • Operating an Office of Interpretive and Outreach Services which provides the public with information about archaeology and historic preservation.