Associate Research Fellow and Director of MIHP
Ph.D., Dept. of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, U.K.
Archaeological Science, Ancient Pyrotechnology, Bead Studies, Regional Interaction around the South China Sea
Kuan-Wen Wang entered archaeology from a background in materials science. Her research applies scientific analysis to archaeological materials to investigate ancient material circulation, production technologies, and their associated social and regional interactions. Focusing primarily on Taiwan, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, her work integrates archaeological context, materials analysis, and interregional comparison to examine the provenance, production, and circulation of materials, and the relationship between technological practice and regional interaction.
Her recent research has focused on glass ornaments from Metal Age to early modern Taiwan, exploring long-term changes in maritime exchange networks linking different regions of Taiwan with Southeast Asia, South Asia, and regions further afield. Through the analysis of glass, copper-base materials, and metallurgical remains, she also investigates raw-material selection and use, production processes, and the exchange of technological knowledge between different crafts. Her research has further expanded into ancient bronze production, with particular attention to metallurgical practices, raw-material use, and related technological choices.
Her future research will continue to adopt an archaeological science approach, integrating glass, metals, metallurgical remains, trade ceramics, and other archaeological materials to explore long-term changes in exchange networks, technological practices, and maritime connections across East and Southeast Asia, and to examine how materials, craft traditions, and regional interactions developed in relation to one another.
Education
Ph.D., Dept. of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, U.K. (2016)
M.A., Institute of Archaeology, University College London, U.K. (2009)
B.A., Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan (2007)
Current Position
Director, Museum of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica (2026.4- )
Associate Research Fellow, Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica (2026.1.27- )
Chief Coordinator, Research Center for Taiwan and Southeast Asian Archaeology (2022-present)
Board Member, The Archaeological Society of Taiwan (2021-present)
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Austronesian Studies (2026- present)
Adjunct Associate Professor, Institute of Anthropology, National Tsing Hua University (2026.1.27- )
Previous Position
Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica (2018.7.1-2026.1.26)
Academia Sinica Postdoctoral Scholars (2017.07.01-2018.06.30)
2023-2025 NSTC Excellent Young Scholars Program
2017-2018 Academi
2015 蔣經國國際學術交流基金會中華民國留學生博士論文獎學金
2015 The Society for Archaeological Sciences Student Research International Travel Award
2013 教育部留學獎學金乙類
2013 Association for the History of Glass Travel Grants