Clad in a thin layer of dirt, nearly 20 student archeologists spent their Monday excavating relics from Berkeley's past.

The four-week excavation-located in the parking lot along the 2500 block of Channing Way-is part of an environmental review for a proposed residential housing facility that is slated to replace the lot.

As part of a summer sessions course, 16 students-along with graduate student instructors, volunteers and a supervising professor-will excavate the site, which was once home to 19th-century entrepreneur John Hinkel and later became student housing for female students until its demolition in the 1950s.

"We get to run a field school where students get to come and learn how to do archeology and at the same time we're also doing mitigation for the environmental process," said anthropology professor Laurie Wilkie, director of the Archaeological Research Facility. "It's a win-win situation (and) ... a really good collaboration."

Along with providing a necessary service for the campus, she said the excavation will allow students to better understand what UC Berkeley was like generations ago.

"We think that the 1930s and before isn't all that far past," Wilkie said. "The reality is we don't know a whole lot about what day-to-day life was like for students."

During the excavation, students have already uncovered items ranging from antique lipstick tubes to fragments of ceramics that can be traced to past students and the Hinkel

family.

The excavation represents an ongoing partnership with Wilkie and the department of anthropology, said Beth Piatnitza, associate director of physical and environmental planning for Capital Projects at UC Berkeley.

"We like to coordinate with ...

Wilkie on future projects as much as we can," she said. "Whenever we know ... that our projects might be disturbing (historical material), she's one who we might consult with to see if it could be a student project."

The proposed student housing, the construction and planning of which is funded by Residential and Student Service Programs, is slated to go before the UC Board of Regents in July for budget approval.

Should the budget be approved, design plans for the 425-student facility will go before the board again in November, according to Piatnitza.

"If it stays on track it would break ground probably in August 2010 and be completed in August 2012," she said.

Meanwhile, students in the class said they are enjoying their field work and getting dirty in the process.

"Not many undergraduates get to excavate," said junior Lizz Campos. "It's definitely one of the best things I've done at Berkeley."

Tags: DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, UC BERKELEY CAPITAL PROJECTS