February 7, 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Caroline Witherspoon
or Jocelyn Collado
Becker Communications
(808) 533-4165
BISHOP MUSEUM APPOINTS DR. TIANLONG JIAO
ANTHROPOLOGY CHAIR
HONOLULU – Bishop Museum has appointed distinguished archeologist Tianlong Jiao, Ph.D. as Chairman of the Department of Anthropology. He was previously acting chair of the department.
Dr. Jiao brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. He has directed or participated in more than 30 archeological excavation projects in China since 1985. His excavation at the Qiazhangda site was recognized as one of the 10 most important archaeological discoveries in China in 1995. He also joined archaeological excavations in Copan , Honduras . Dr. Jiao has co-authored five books and published more than 30 research papers in both Chinese and English.
“We are honored to have someone of Dr. Jiao’s distinction lead our anthropology department,” aid Bill Brown, President and CEO of Bishop Museum. “I am confident that Dr. Jiao will lead us to new heights of excellence in research, building on over a century of Bishop Museum discovery, collection and publication on the human societies of the Pacific region.”
Prior to joining Bishop Museum, Dr. Jiao was previously Assistant Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Archaeology in Beijing from 1990-1996, where he also served as Director of the Shandong Archaeology Section. He was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University ’s Anthropology Department in 2001, receiving several prominent awards from the school.
In 2003, Dr. Jiao joined Bishop Museum as a Researcher. His projects have included an archaeological study of the origin of rice agriculture and the links between prehistoric China and the Pacific. Working with a team of researchers from the U.S. , Israel and China , Dr. Jiao has conducted a series of excavations in Hunan , Zhejiang and Fujian Province , China over the last two years. He is currently directing an exhibit project to feature the recent archeological discoveries from Southeast China at Bishop Museum in 2007.
Dr. Jiao graduated with B.A. from Peking University in 1987 and from Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Science with an M.A. in 1990. He received his doctoral degree in anthropology from Harvard University in 2003.
A treasured resource of Hawaiian history and heritage Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop as a tribute to his wife Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha dynasty. Located at 1525 Bernice Street , the Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults; $11.95 for youth 4-12 years, special rates for kama ‘āina , seniors and military; children under 4 years and Bishop Museum Members are free. For information, call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.