Professor Dr. Parker Vanvalkenburgh

Biography

Parker VanValkenburgh's research utilizes archaeological methods to explore anthropological questions, focusing on the long-term impacts of colonialism, imperialism, and Indigenous interactions with the environment in the Peruvian Andes. His work examines diverse materials, including architecture, ceramics, environmental datasets, and archival documents, aiming to comprehend the intricate relationships between people, institutions, and environments that have been transformed through imperial histories. He employs digital methodologies and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map and analyze social, political, and environmental changes over time. As the co-director of the Paisajes Arqueológicos de Chachapoyas (PACha) project, he investigates long-term human-environment interactions in Peru's Chachapoyas region. VanValkenburgh also directs the Brown Digital Archaeology Laboratory and teaches various courses, including Geographic Information Systems and critical digital archaeology. His academic trajectory includes a Ph.D. from Harvard University and previous positions at the University of Vermont and Washington University in St. Louis. He is dedicated to fostering a rigorous exploration of the archaeological record and its implications for understanding historical narratives and contemporary issues.

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