Alexei Vranich ( ; born July 15, 1968) is an American archaeologist specializing in the pre-Columbian South America. His previous positions include Visiting Professor at the
University of Warsaw, Poland (2021-22)
Programme ZIP UNIA Europejska, Lecturer at the
Department of Material Sciences at MIT (2021-22), Research Associate, and Assistant Dean at Bowles Hall Residential College (2016-18) at the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
, Research Associate and Visiting Assistant Professor (2009-2015) at
UCLA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...
, and a Lecturer and Research Associate at the
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
from 1999 to 2004. He received his B.A. from the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
in 1990 and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999. He is a Fulbright Scholar and
Dumbarton Oaks Harvard Fellow. Vranich is presently teaching and conducting research at the University of Warsaw, Poland.
Contributions
Vranich has conducted archaeology research in Spain, Italy, India, Bulgaria, Costa Rica and Cambodia, with notable contributions in
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
and
Bolivia –
Cusco,
Machu Picchu, and
Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku ( es, Tiahuanaco or ) is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia near Lake Titicaca, about 70 kilometers from La Paz, and it is one of the largest sites in South America. Surface remains currently cover around 4 square kilo ...
respectively. He has unique expertise and experience developing advanced techniques for
computer modeling
Computer simulation is the process of mathematical modelling, performed on a computer, which is designed to predict the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be dete ...
and
geomatics
Geomatics is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as the "discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information". Under another definition, it ...
of historical sites, and effort supported by two National Science Foundation Research Grants for $1,000,200 and $111,00 for work at Tiwanaku. His recent publication on the use of 3D printing for reconstruction ancient architecture was ranked in the top 99th percentile of online attention of over 12 million articles tracked by Altmetric.
PublicationsAlexei Vranich's Collected Publications
Articles
*Reconstructing Ancient Architecture at Tiwanaku, Bolivia: The Potential and Promise of 3d Printing. ''Heritage Science.'' https://heritagesciencejournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40494-018-0231-0
*Fusion of Three-Dimensional Data at Tiwanaku: An Approach to Spatial Data Integration. Christopher Goodmaster and Alexei Vranich.
*Prehistoric Urban Archaeology in the Americas: A View from Cusco, Peru. Alexei Vranich, Thomas Hardy, and Stephen Berquist. Backdirt Magazine, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, Los Angeles, December 2014.
*Seeing What is Not There: Reconstructing the Monumental Experience. Alexei Vranich, edited by James R. Matheiu. Experimental Archaeology: replicating past objects, behaviors, and processes. Barr International Series 1035, 2002.
*Visions of Tiwanaku. Alexei Vranich. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, Los Angeles 2013. .
*Blackwell Studies in Global Archaeology: Experiencing the Cities of Wari and Tiwanaku. Alexei Vranich and William H. Isbell, edited by Helaine Silverman. Blackwell Publishing Limited, 2004.
*Señoras de los Imperios del Sol, Colección Arte y Tesoros del Peru: Plataformas, plazas y palacios en Tiwanaku, Bolivia (500-1000 a.d.). Alexei Vranich.
*Max Uhle, Evaluaciones de sus Investigaciones y Obras: Revalorizando a Max Uhle en Tiwanaku. Alexei Vranich. Fondo Editorial, Universidad Catolica del Peru.
*The Development of the Ritual Core of Tiwanaku. Alexei Vranich. Tiwanaku: Papers from the 2005 Mayer Symposium at the Denver Art Museum. Denver Art Museum, 2005.
*Coping with Chaos. By Alexei Vranich. Archeology magazine, May/June 2003.
*Revalorizando a Max Uhle en Tiwanaku, in Max Uhle (1856-1944). Evaluaciones de sus Investigaciones y Obras. Alexei Vranich. Edited by Peter Kaulicke, Fondo Editorial PUCP, Lima, Perú.
*Fusion of Three-Dimensional Data at Tiwanaku: An approach to Spatial Data Integration. Jackson Cothren, Christopher Goodmaster, Adam Barnes, Eileen Ernenein, Alexei Vranich, W. Fredrick Limp, Angelia Payne.
*La pirámide de Akapana: Reconsiderando el centro monumental de Tiwanaku. Alexei Vranich. Boletin de Arqueologia PUCP, No. 5, 2001.
*The Construction and Reconstruction of Ritual Space at Tiwanaku, Bolivia
*Recreating Cusco in Three Dimensions. J. Cothren, A. Barnes, A. Vranich. CAA 2010: Fusion of Cultures.
*Reed Boats and Experimental Archaeology on Lake Titicaca. Alexei Vranich, Paul Harmon, Chris Knutson. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Press, Expedition magazine, Vol 47, No. 2, 2005.
Books
* Visions of Tiwanaku. Alexei Vranich and Charles Stanish. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, Los Angeles 2013. .
* Advances in Titicaca Basin Archaeology-2. Alexei Vranich and Abigail Levine. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, Los Angeles, 2013. .
* Advances in Titicaca Basin Archaeology-3. Alexei Vranich, Elizabeth Klarich and Charles Stanish. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, Los Angeles, 2013.
Television
*Expedition Unknown: Bolivia, 2018''.'' On-screen talent and consultant. Discovery.
*What on Earth, ''2017'' On-screen talent and consultant. Science Channel
*
Lost Kingdoms of South America, 2013. On Screen Expert and Primary Consultant.
*
The Ancient Life, 2011. On Screen Expert.
*
BrewMasters, 2010. On Screen Expert and Consultant.
"Professor’s research proves to be no small beer"
by Laurie Allred, November 28, 2010.
* Voyage to the American Stonehenge, 2007. Host and Primary Consultant.
* Debunked!, 2004. Host and Primary Consultant.
References
External links
Alexei Vranich's homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vranich, Alexei
1968 births
Living people
American anthropologists
University of California, Berkeley alumni
University of Pennsylvania alumni
Place of birth missing (living people)