The module to mine relics is available from the beginning.

Xeno Archeology Lab it's prerequisite tech is TechTree.

Please elaborate. In the trade screen we see they had not yet researched Xeno Archeology.

Er. ignore my reply. I didn't look on your side of the Trade window

Okay, I finally see where I went wrong, but it's not entirely my fault. You do indeed have access to the Xeno Archeology Lab module from the beginning. I had incorrectly assumed this module came from the Xeno Archeology tech. Instead that tech provides the Ancient Studies Center module, which is the upgrade. I say it's not entirely my fault because the naming creates confusion. Even since early beta, I had assumed you needed to research Xeno Archeology in order to unlock the Xeno Archeology Lab. It's a logical conclusion.

Anyway, a) the Iridium didn't cheat, and b ) this changes how I will be prioritizing relics. Thanks for the help!

I can actually see why you made this mistake it would seem to be intuitive that Xeno Archeology Lab module would require the Xeno Archeology tech. 

They may have had it in mind at some point to work that way but then figured it would make, making a beeline for that tech too important, but it was always as it is now in the betas as far as I remember.