Profile

Dr. Hunt joins the University of Oregon as Dean of the Clark Honors College and professor of anthropology.  He has taught for 24 years at University of Hawai`i. Dr. Hunt has been conducting archaeological field research in the Pacific Islands for more than 30 years.  He has done extensive work in the Hawaiian Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and Rapa Nui (Easter Island).  Since 20001 Dr. Hunt has directed archaeological field research on Rapa Nui, where he and his students continue work on many aspects of the island’s prehistoric past.  His research addresses questions concerning the trajectory of cultural and ecological changes, including the role of the colossal statues and monuments. Dr. Hunt has published numerous scholarly articles on Pacific archaeology, prehistory, and linguistics.  His work has been published inScience, Nature, American Scientist, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Journal of Archaeological Science,Pacific Science, Journal of the Polynesian Society, Rapa Nui Journal, and Current Anthropology, among others.  He has co-edited four books, including a collection on historical ecology. In 2008 Dr. Hunt was awarded the prestigious University of Hawai`i Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Research in recognition of his innovative work on Rapa Nui. In 2005, Dr. Hunt won the University of Hawaii Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Hunt’s recent book (The Statues that Walked: Unraveling the mystery of Easter Island, Free Press, New York, 2011) co-authored with Carl Lipo, revisits the dramatic story of Rapa Nui’s prehistory.  The book won the Society for American Archaeology’s book of the year award, 2011, in the public audience category. Dr. Hunt’s research was the focus of a National Geographic Magazine cover story (July, 2012) and a full-length Nova-National Geographic TV documentary that aired on PBS in November 2012.