Christopher J. Bae

Christopher J. Bae is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Hawaii, specializing in paleoanthropology and Eastern Asian prehistory. His research integrates hominin morphological and behavioral records across China, Japan, and Korea to address human evolutionary variability during the Pleistocene.

• Education: PhD in Anthropology (Rutgers University), MA in Anthropology (University of Arizona), BA in Anthropology (Stony Brook University, cum laude)

His work spans disciplines such as lithic technology, vertebrate taphonomy, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and race/human variation. Using field and lab methodologies, he links fossil records with behavioral evidence to understand Homo erectus and archaic/modern Homo sapiens evolution. His publications and $1.5M in extramural funding reflect efforts to resolve the Chibanian puzzle and address ethical concerns in biological nomenclature.

Recent publications focus on Late Quaternary hominin variability, Acheulean technology in China, and Pleistocene cave faunas. Themes include climate impact on dispersal patterns, tool use, and biogeography. His 2025 studies on the Badain Jaran Desert sites and tektite dating advance understanding of hominin adaptations to arid environments.

Scientific Awards:

• Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research (2012)

Bae teaches courses on biological anthropology, human origins, skeletal biology, and Asian paleoanthropology. His leadership as Dean and fieldwork in East Asia underscore his commitment to expanding the human evolutionary narrative in underrepresented regions.