Daniel Pierce first obtained multiple BA degrees (Anthropology, History, and Fine Arts) from the University of Missouri-St. Louis before receiving his MA and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Missouri- Columbia. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Institut de recherche sur les Archéomatériaux – Centre de recherche en physique appliquée à l’archéologie (IRAMAT-CRP2A) at the Université Bordeaux Montaigne.

His research is based on the study of material culture in the ancient Americas. His region of specialization is primarily in Mesoamerica, with special emphasis on the Postclassic Aztatlan tradition of Western Mexico. However, he maintains active research elsewhere throughout Mesoamerica as well as within the United States. Particularly in West Mexico, he has conducted large scale regional studies of both obsidian and ceramics.  In general, he utilizes geochemistry and geospatial analyses coupled with interdisciplinary theory to study the production, use, and trade of ancient materials and is especially interested in how material culture relates to social stratification and inequality within societies regardless of temporal or geographic context.

References

• Xiuhtecutli, Nezahualcoyotl, Daniel E. Pierce, and Michael D. Glascock (under review), Tlaxcallan Pottery Manufacture and Restricted Networks. Submitted to Journal of Anthropological Archaeology
• Garduño Ambriz, Mauricio and Daniel E. Pierce (under review), Trade, Production, and Cultural Integration at Cerro de Coamiles, Nayarit. Submitted to Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
• Pierce, Daniel E., Anthony Farace, and Dana Lewis (2021), America’s Haven of Health: Hydrotherapy and Tourism at Excelsior Springs, Missouri. History and Anthropology. doi: 10.1080/02757206.2021.1901286
• Venter, Marcie, Daniel E. Pierce, and Michael D. Glascock (2021), Ceramic exchange networks in the south-central Tuxtla Mountains, southern Veracruz, Mexico. Geoarchaeology. doi: 10.1002/gea.21836
• Pierce, Daniel E. (2021), A Regional Assessment of Obsidian Use in the Postclassic Aztatlán Tradition. Ancient Mesoamerica. doi: 10.1017/S0956536120000346
• Pierce, Daniel E, and Timothy Matisziw  (2021), Prehistoric Panopticon: Settlement Visibility at Cahokia. Space and Culture. 24(2):216-239.
• Overholtzer, Lisa, Daniel E. Pierce, and Michael D. Glascock (2020), Aztec Black-on-Orange and Redware Pottery Production from the Middle Postclassic to Early Colonial Period: Insight from Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) at Xaltocan. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (34) 102642. doi: 10.1016/j/jesrep.2020.102642
• Pierce, Daniel E., Patti J. Wright, and Rachel S. Popelka-Filcoff (2020), Seeing Red: An analysis of archaeological ochre in East Central Missouri. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 12(1):1-20. doi: 10.1017/S0956536120000346
• Huster, Angela, Daniel E. Pierce (2020), A Geochemical Baseline for Clays of the Toluca Valley, Mexico. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (29) 102094. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.102094
• Faugére, Brigitte, Daniel E. Pierce, Héctor Victor Cabadas Báez (2019), Teotihuacan’s neighborhoods expansion in Northwest Mexico: Cultural Implications and Social processes from ceramic analysis of Cuizillo del Mezquital-Los Azules (Guanajuato). Journal of Anthropological Anthropology (56) 101116. doi: 10.1016/j.jaa.2019.101116
• Ebert, Claire E., Daniel E. Pierce, and Jaime J. Awe (2019), Defining the Preclassic Ceramic Economy at Cahal Pech, Belize using Geochemical Compositional Analyses.  Antiquity. doi: 10.15184/aqy.2019.93
• Barber, Sarah B., and Daniel E. Pierce (2019), Supplemental Paste Composition Data from the Manialtepec Basin, Oaxaca. Data in Brief. 23:103805. doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.103805
• Cohen, Anna S. and Daniel E. Pierce (2019), Geochemical Data of Ceramics and Clays from Angamuco, Michoacán, Mexico. Data in Brief. 22:103633. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.12.071
• Barber, Sarah B., and Daniel E. Pierce (2019), Ceramic Production and Consumption on a Periphery: Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from the Manialtepec Basin of Oaxaca, Mexico. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 23: 868-880. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.11.036
• Cohen, Anna S., Daniel E. Pierce, and Christopher T. Fischer (2019), Geochemical Analysis and Spatial Trends of Ceramics and Clay from Angamuco, Michoacán. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 23: 216-230. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.10.025
• Callaghan, Michael, Daniel E. Pierce, and William Gilstrap (2018), The First Maya Trade Ware? New Data on Mars Orange Paste Wares from Holtun, Guatemala. Latin American Antiquity.  29(4): 821-827. doi: 10.1017/laq.2018.42
• Pierce, Daniel E. (2017), Finding Class in the Glass: Obsidian source as a costly signal. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. 48: 217-232. doi: 10.1016/j.jaa.2017.05.001
• Callaghan, Michael, Daniel E. Pierce, Michael Glascock, and Brigitte Kovacevich (2017), An atlas of paste fabrics and supplemental paste compositional data from late middle preclassic-period ceramics at the Maya site of Holtun, Guatemala. Data in Brief. 12C: 55-67. doing: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.03.024
• Callaghan, Michael, Daniel E. Pierce, Michael Glascock, and Brigitte Kovacevich (2017), Chemical Paste Characterization of Middle Preclassic Period Ceramics from Holtun, Guatemala and its Implications for Production and Exchange. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 12:334-345. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.01.040
• Pierce, Daniel E. (2016), Volcán las Navajas:  The chemical characterization and usage of a West Mexican obsidian source in the Aztatlán Tradition.  Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.6: 603-609. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.03.041
• Pierce, Daniel E.(2015), Visual and Geochemical Analyses of Obsidian Source Use at San Felipe Aztatán, Mexico. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. 40: 266-279. doi: 10.1016/j.jaa.2015.09.002