Filipino archaeologist Victor Paz dies at 57

The National Museum of the Philippines confirms the passing of Filipino archaeologist Victor Joqauin Paz on Saturday, September 7, 2024. —Photo from National Museum of the Philippines/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Renowned Filipino Archaeologist Victor Joaquin Paz died at the age of 57 on Saturday, the National Museum of the Philippines announced.

“The National Museum of the Philippines deeply mourns the passing of renowned Filipino archaeologist Victor J. Paz of the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Archaeology,” said National Museum of the Philippines in a Facebook post.

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Paz, who earned his PhD degree in Archaeology in the University of Cambridge, was the director of the former UP Archaeological Studies Program from 2002 to 2012.

He was also the founding editor of Hukay: Journal of Southeast Asia and Pacific Archaeology and a founding member of the Kapisanan ng mga Arkeologist ng Pilipinas.

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The National Museum of the Philippines noted that “Dr. Paz made his mark with a long list of successful archaeological and heritage projects and in forming the next generation of Filipino archaeologists through his teaching and mentoring.”

Dr. Paz started his teaching career at the Department of History in UP, where he also obtained his undergraduate and masters degree in History.

According to his profile in the UP School of Archaeology, Paz had an interest in Southeast Asian and Pacific archeology, adding that “studying transforming cultural consciousness and cosmologies and their materiality in Southeast Asian and Oceanic cultures is a standing interest of mine.”