Richard E. Hughes

In 1973, Richard E. Hughes received a bachelor's degree in anthropology from California State College in Sonoma, followed by a master's degree in anthrolopogy from the University of California at Davis in 1977 and a doctorate degree in anthropology from the University of California at Davis in 1983. In 1983 he took positions as visiting lecturer at the departments of anthropology at Sonoma State University and the University of California at Davis. In 1988, he became a lecturer in anthropology at the California State University at Sacramento. In 1986, he founded the Geochemical Research Laboratory in Rancho Cordova, California. He is still director, and it is now located in Portola Valley, California.

Dr. Hughes specializes in archaeological geochemistry (obsidian sourcing); specifically, the use of energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry to determine the selected major, minor, trace, and rare earth element composition of volcanic rocks, and the use of distinctive combinations of various chemical elements to determine the likely geologic source of origin for archaeological artifacts.