Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research Archives

Missouri State archaeologists attend crime scene investigation training

August 3, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Two research archaeologists from Missouri State’s Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) attended an archaeological crime scene investigation workshop June 15-18 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

CAR director Kevin Cupka Head and research archaeologist Jennifer Rideout were invited by Stephanie Nutt, Fort Leonard Wood’s Cultural Resource manager, to attend the Archeological Resources Protection Training workshop. Upon completing the training, Cupka Head and Rideout will partner with Texas State University’s Center for Archaeological Studies to support archaeological investigations at Fort Leonard Wood.

According to Cupka Head, the workshop taught archaeologists how to apply their expertise to support criminal investigations. They learned how to collaborate with federal law enforcement in cases of unauthorized digging for artifacts, vandalism of sacred sites and similar acts prohibited on public lands.

Anthropology program sees high success rates with experiential education

June 23, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Dr. Scott Worman presented the anthropology program’s High Impact Educational Experience (HIEE) success rates at the Society for American Archaeology annual conference. The conference was held April 29-May 3 in San Francisco, California.

Worman is an associate professor of anthropology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology (SAG). He also serves as the department’s anthropology program coordinator.

In “Dig Up Opportunity in Your Backyard: Accessible Field Training for Undergraduates,” Worman discussed how adopting commuter field schools has allowed Missouri State students to engage with multiple HIEEs. This solution provides hands-on training in archaeology as well as how the university makes that training accessible to students.

Commuter field schools offer numerous benefits, Worman said. Students enjoy a range of scheduling options that accommodate their busy lives. As “work-integrated learning experiences,” field schools also encourage sustained engagement with surrounding communities and create “school-to-career pipelines” for graduates.

“Completing an archaeological field school is required for someone to be able to begin working as a professional archaeologist,” Worman said. “So these field schools open the door to careers.”

Worman collaborated with Dr. Elizabeth Sobel, professor of anthropology, and Kevin Cupka Head, director of the Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) for the research and presentation.

Professors emeriti Lopinot and Ray present archaeological research in Trinidad and Tobago

June 1, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University professors emeriti Dr. Neal H. Lopinot and Jack H. Ray presented a summary of two decades’ worth of historical and archaeological investigations March 2, 2026, at the University of the West Indies-St. Augustine campus.

Among the guests at the presentation were Chief Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, representatives from several local and national tourism organizations, members of Citizens for Conservation and the Landmarks Committee of the National Trust.

During the event, Lopinot and Ray discussed their historical research at La Reconnaissance, a former cacao plantation located in the Lopinot Valley. They also discussed their archaeological excavation at Guaico Tamana, a former flintknapping production site.

Prior to the event, Lopinot and Ray returned all artifacts recovered from both sites to the University of the West Indies and the National Trust.

Significant new findings by Pierce and Bodine highlight successful Amazon research trip

January 22, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Two research archaeologists from Missouri State University’s Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) returned from the Amazon in December with information that will advance our understanding of the region’s ancient history.

Two men standing outside on a river bank — Dr. Daniel Pierce (left) and Christopher Bodine get ready to start their journey on the Rio Negro.

During their expedition to the region Dec. 14-19, Dr. Daniel Pierce and Christopher Bodine discovered evidence of large-scale ancient settlements. In addition, they confirmed the presence of previously undocumented geographical formations.

This information suggests that sophisticated civilizations existed in the Amazon long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

From geoglyphs to ancient settlements

Pierce and Bodine launched their Amazon expedition primarily to research previously unreported geoglyphs. Using data they collected from NASA, the pair identified those geoglyphs with LiDAR technology.

“We were especially interested in a specific geoglyph that we had identified in a region hundreds of miles from any other known glyphs,” Pierce explained. “In this regard, we were successful. We were able to locate the glyph in the field and confirm it on the ground in person.”

The pair didn’t just confirm their LiDAR observations, though. They also discovered evidence of a large-scale pre-Columbian settlement deep in the Amazon.

“The specifics of that evidence will all be in our scientific publication,” Pierce said. “We want to keep that information a bit closer to the vest for now to ensure the scientific process is maintained” through the peer review process, he added.

CAR’s Daniel Pierce and Christopher Bodine named Explorers Club Fellows

November 6, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University archaeologists Dr. Daniel Pierce and Christopher Bodine have been named Fellows of The Explorers Club.

In addition, Bodine has been named a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), headquartered in London, England.

Pierce and Bodine work in the Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research Center (CAR). They are members of the St. Louis chapter of The Explorers Club.

Dr. Mabel Purkerson, Professor Emerita of Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine, and Ted Bakewell of the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis nominated Pierce. Robbie Hart, a director of the William L. Brown Center at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and Dr. Michael Frachetti, Professor at Archaeology Washington University-St Louis, nominated Bodine.

Fellowship honors significant contributions to exploration

According to its website, The Explorers Club is a “multidisciplinary society dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation.”

Bodine said Explorers Club fellowships are awarded to individuals who make “significant contributions” to the field. The club recognized him for his work in Israel, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Nominees must submit a list of all fieldwork, publications and honors received in the name of exploration and discovery, Pierce said. The club recognized his nearly two decades of research in Mexico and Guatemala.