Prof. Dr. Li Liu | Archaeology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Li Liu, Sir Robert Ho Tung Professor in Chinese Archaeology at Stanford University, is an internationally renowned archaeologist whose groundbreaking research has profoundly advanced the understanding of early Chinese civilizations, Neolithic societies, and the origins of complex cultures in East Asia. With a Ph.D. in Archaeology from Harvard University, Prof. Liu has built an exceptional academic career that seamlessly integrates field excavation, laboratory science, and cultural theory. Her work bridges traditional archaeological practice with cutting-edge scientific analysis, offering new insights into the origins of agriculture, early food and drink production, craft specialization, and ritual behavior in ancient China. Prof. Liu’s research explores how prehistoric communities adapted to their environments, developed agricultural systems, and established social hierarchies that laid the foundations for early states. Her studies on fermented beverages, fibercraft technology, and ritual feasting reveal the social and symbolic dimensions of early human innovation. She has directed numerous international archaeological collaborations and field projects across China, contributing to a global re-evaluation of Neolithic transformations and the emergence of urbanism. As a leading figure in East Asian archaeology, Prof. Liu combines archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological methods with experimental archaeology and microscopic analysis to reconstruct ancient lifeways. Her books published by Cambridge University Press have become foundational texts for understanding Chinese archaeology, while her research continues to shape contemporary interpretations of early state formation and cultural evolution.