Sachiko Sakai

Sachiko Sakai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2014), an M.A. in Anthropology from CSULB (2001), and a B.A. in History from Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan (1989). Her research focuses on Southwestern US archaeology, cultural resource management, and Virgin Ancestral Pueblo prehistory, with expertise in luminescence dating, ceramic analysis, and archaeological chemistry.

Dr. Sakai’s work integrates scientific methods such as luminescence dating, XRF analysis, and ceramic provenance studies to explore social interaction, resource utilization, and prehistoric adaptations. She has led projects like the Mt. Trumbull Prehistory Project and serves as Luminescence Lab Manager at CSULB’s IIRMES facility. Her fieldwork spans the US Southwest, Mesoamerica, and international sites in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Her publications emphasize ceramic production networks, chronological frameworks, and the application of geochemical techniques. She has contributed to special issues honoring Margaret Lyneis and co-edited volumes on Southwestern and Mesoamerican archaeology. Professional activities include roles in NAGPRA compliance and memberships in organizations like SAA, AAA, and SCA.

Teaching specialties include archaeological field methods, California prehistory, and cultural resource management. She advises archaeological projects for federal agencies and collaborates with Indigenous communities on repatriation efforts.