Claudio Cristino

An Archaeologist with studies in Philosophy and degrees in social anthropology and archaeology from the University of Chile, Claudio has spent most of his adult life working and living in Polynesia. He did extensive specialization in the Pacific and is currently pursuing other academic degrees at the University of Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne).

Claudio's connection with Polynesia goes back to 1976, when he worked in the restoration of Easter Island’s famous Orongo village. In 1978 he co-founded the Easter Island Studies Institute at Hanga Roa, and was its first director. In the late 1980s, Claudio lived and worked in Tahiti for the Centre Polynésien des Sciences Humaines, contributing to the organization of the Archaeological Survey of French Polynesia and was responsible for the restoration of several monuments. Appointed Director of the Anthropological Museum, he returned to Easter Island and became Field Director of the restoration of Ahu Tongariki, Polynesia’s largest ceremonial site. He continues doing research in archaeology, anthropology and ethnology in several archipelagoes of French Polynesia and Easter Island and, when not in some remote island, teaches at the Department of Anthropology, and the School of Architecture, University of Chile.