Welcome to Terra Incognita Research Institute. Formed in 2025, we are an independent team of interdisciplinary researchers dedicated to science, exploration, and discovery. With specializations in archaeology, anthropology, geochemistry, geography, and history, our projects span the globe in places like the US, Mexico, Israel, Brazil, and Mongolia, among other locales. Follow us for updates on our ongoing projects. There are exciting things to come
Meet the Team
Daniel (Co-Founder and Lead Researcher)
Meet co-founder and lead researcher, Dr. Daniel Pierce. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he has degrees in Anthropology, History, and Art, eventually receiving his PhD in Anthropological Archaeology from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) in 2017. Since then, he has worked for the Archaeometry Laboratory of the University of Missouri Research Reactor, the IRAMAT-CRP2A lab at the Université Bordeaux Montaigne, in France, and the University of Central Florida. He currently works as a Research Archaeologist at the Warren Center for Archaeological Research at Missouri State University. Authoring over 35 scientific journal articles and book chapters, Daniel has published research from the US, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and Panama. He has extensive experience in both geochemical and geospatial analyses, with expertise in the study of both ancient ceramic and stone tools. He serves as an expert reviewer for multiple scientific journals and is a member of the Society for American Archaeology, American Anthropological Association, and The Registry of Professional Archaeologist. Today he calls Springfield, Missouri home, where he lives with his wife and fellow Terra Incognita researcher, Jasmine. Beyond his research, Daniel is an award-winning artist, songwriter, long distance runner, and practices Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo, the latter of which he is also a coach.
Christopher (Co-Founder and Lead Researcher)
Christopher Bodine is also a co-founder and lead researcher at Terra Incognita. He has years of experience specializing in LIDAR and SAR technologies. Chris was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. He has degrees in Anthropology, History, Religious Studies and Geospatial Science, and is currently a PhD student in Archaeology at the University of Arkansas. He has worked for the Archaeometry Laboratory of the University of Missouri Research Reactor, the Oklahoma Geological Survey and is currently working as a Research Archaeologist at the Warren Center for Archaeological Research at Missouri State University and as a Research Assistant at the University of Arkansas Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies. As an archaeologist, he has worked in Israel, Belgium, the UK, and the U.S. Chris is a member of the American Anthropological Association, Registry for Professional Archaeologists, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He has years of experience with geospatial analyses, with expertise in the study of both satellite and UAV remote sensing. Beyond his research, Chris is an avid fitness enthusiast, former highland games athlete, practices Brazilian jiu jitsu and enjoys spending time with his family on the farm.
Jasmine (Research Historian)
Jasmine Pierce is a research historian and photographer for Terra Incognita. She currently studies at Missouri State University, with a specialization in Ozark history, genealogy, and cultural history. She is especially interested in uncovering the stories that shape communities and identities, and solving mysteries lost to time. Her work is grounded in both regional expertise and a global perspective—developed through extensive travel across the continental United States, Asia, Central America, Europe, and the Caribbean, as well as two and a half years living in Bordeaux, France. In her travels, she has also visited all 48 contiguous states in America.
As an historian, visual artist, and photographer, Jasmine combines scholarly research with creative expression. Beyond her academic and photographic work, she enjoys long-distance running, attending concerts, cooking, and exploring a wide range of artistic mediums. Her passion for storytelling—whether through history, images, or art—defines her multifaceted approach to understanding the human experience. Today, Jasmine lives in Springfield, Missouri with her husband and fellow Terra Incognita member, Daniel, and their three insane cats.
Micah (Research Archaeologist)
Micah Phoenix is a research archaeologist for Terra Incognita who fulfilled her lifelong dream of attending college when she began formally studying archaeology as a non-traditional student at Missouri State University. She then graduated in 2022, while raising five sons with her husband, Stephen. She discovered her passion for archaeology largely thanks to the dedication and zeal shown by two anthropology professors, Dr. Scott Worman and Dr. Elizabth Sobel. With the skills she learned from these mentors, Micah quickly began working as a field technician for the Warren Center for Archaeological Research and has since worked on various phase II projects across the state of Missouri and more than thirty cultural resource surveys. She now serves as secretary for the Ozarks Chapter of the Missouri Archaeological Society, and is an active member of the Missouri Herpetological Society, the American Anthropological Association, the Missouri Mycological Society, and the Deaf Awareness Group of Missouri. Dedicated to giving back to her community, Micah also enjoys volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House, Ozark’s Food Harvest, Harmony House, and the Springfield Community Gardens. Her main archaeological interest is in the Ozarks region, as well as analyses in ethnobotany, lithics, and geoglyphs.
Cora (Research Assistant)
Cora Darmody is a research assistant for Terra Incognita. She graduated from Missouri State University in 2025 with degrees in Anthropology, Archaeology, and Sociology; along with certificates in Cultural Anthropology, and Ancient Worlds. Her passion for archaeology started when she was little and stuck with her throughout her years. During her college career Cora worked as a student worker at the Warren Center for Archaeological Research in their lab mainly. On occasion, she helped out in the field on their bigger projects. Once graduated she was kept on at the center, and promoted to a field technician position where she currently resides. Since graduating, she has worked on various projects with the center. Cora’s main archaeological interest is in Central America and South America, as well as Paleo-Indian studies. When Cora is not in the field or in the lab analyzing artifacts you can find her outside taking a hike, watching hockey, or reading one of her various books that she needs to get caught up on.
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