Barry V. Rolett

Barry V. Rolett is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Hawaii, specializing in Polynesian and Chinese archaeology. His research spans Neolithic cultures, maritime adaptation, and the origins of Polynesians linked to Southeast China.

• PhD, Yale University, 1989
• M.Phil, Yale University, 1985
• BA in English, Pomona College, 1980

Rolett's work focuses on Polynesian archaeology, particularly Tahuata in the Marquesas Islands, and Neolithic seafaring in China. He has conducted over 20 expeditions and established the community-based Te Ana Peua Museum in the Marquesas.

His recent publications analyze Neolithic rice agriculture, Holocene climate changes, and maritime interaction networks across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Key trends include environmental adaptation, cultural exchange, and technological diffusion.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Thomas J. Watson Foundation Fellowship

Rolett collaborates with French Polynesian governments and Sun Yat-Sen University in China. He has secured grants like the NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant for Polynesian research. His lab techniques include faunal analysis and archaeological surveying.

He co-founded the first community-based archaeology museum in French Polynesia and leads international projects at the Andover Foundation for Archaeological Research.