Philippe Charlier, Director of Museum of Anthropology, Archeology and Biology, Visits Hunan Museum

On August 1, Philippe Charlier, Director of the Museum of Anthropology, Archeology and Biology, visited Hunan Museum and held a discussion with Duan Xiaoming, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of Hunan Museum, among others.

Philippe Charlier first toured the exhibition “Changsha Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs Exhibition” at Hunan Museum, showing great interest in the unearthed artifacts and ancient human remains on display.

Following the tour, Philippe Charlier met with Duan Xiaoming and others. During the discussion, he shared key research findings from his laboratory in anthropology, archaeology, and biology. He also provided a brief introduction to the Museum of Anthropology, Archeology and Biology, scheduled to open in 2028, and expressed his desire to collaborate with Hunan Museum and the Hunan Research and Protection Center for Mawangdui Ancient Corpses and Cultural Relics on research related to the human remains and cultural relics unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha.

Duan Xiaoming extended a warm welcome to Philippe Charlier and expressed anticipation for future interdisciplinary collaboration in paleopathology, anthropology, archaeology, biology, and other fields, focusing on the ancient corpses and cultural relics excavated from the Mawangdui Han Tombs.

Friendly discussion between both sides

Philippe Charlier holds multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. in Medicine (Forensic and Anatomical Pathology), a Ph.D. in Literature (Archaeoanthropology), and a Ph.D. in Science (Bioethics). He is also certified in medicine and academia by the University of Lille 2, the Paris Descartes University, and the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE). Currently, he heads the Laboratory of Anthropology, Archaeology, and Biology (LAAB) at the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), serving as a hospital and university lecturer with accreditation to supervise postgraduate research (HDR). Additionally, he is the Director of the Museum of Anthropology, Archeology and Biology, set to open in 2028.

Group photo of the discussion representatives

Also present at the discussion were Tan Xuemei, Representative of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation (FPI) in China; Yu Yanjiao, Director of the Research and Exhibition Center for Mawangdui Han Tombs and Their Collections of Hunan Museum; Huang Lei, Director of the International Exchange Department of Hunan Museum; Dong Xianyan, Deputy Director of the Collection Conservation Center of Hunan Museum; and Wang Xiaosheng, Associate Professor at Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University (CSU) and Deputy Director of the the Hunan Research and Protection Center for Mawangdui Ancient Corpses and Cultural Relics.