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Mark Pearce

Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts

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Biography

  • Since 1 Aug 1995: Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham.
  • 2009-2010: Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship - Exploring the north Italian early Neolithic
  • 2006-08: member, Dr M. Aylwin Cotton Foundation Consultative Committee
  • 2004-07: member, Nomination Committee of the European Association of Archaeologists
  • Sept 2001 - Sept 2004: General Editor, European Journal of Archaeology; ex-officio member Executive Board, European Association of Archaeologists
  • Since April 2001: member of Trent Valley Geoarchaeology, a regional archaeology strategy group
  • 1997-2001: member, Dr M. Aylwin Cotton Foundation Consultative Committee
  • 1996-97: Dr M. Aylwin Cotton Foundation Fellowship
  • April 1997: nominated Membro Straniero of the Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria
  • 1992-93, 1993-94, 1996-97: professore a contratto in Prehistory, University of Pavia, Italy

Expertise Summary

Prehistoric Italy, Early mining and metallurgy, Earlier prehistory, Field survey techniques

Research Summary

Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship book project: Exploring the north Italian early Neolithic. The Neolithic 'revolution' is a key moment in human history, marking the beginning of agricultural… read more

Selected Publications

  • PEARCE, M.J., 2007. Bright blades and red metal: Essays on north Italian prehistoric metalwork London: Accordia Research Institute.
  • PEARCE, M., 2008. Structured deposition in early neolithic Northern Italy Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. 21(1), 19-33
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Una pianura tra le acque: preistoria e protostoria del cremonese. In: TOZZI, P., ed., Storia di Cremona: L'Età Antica Azzano San Paolo (BG): Bolis. 38-61

Current Research

Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship book project: Exploring the north Italian early Neolithic. The Neolithic 'revolution' is a key moment in human history, marking the beginning of agricultural societies. This project reassesses the north Italian early Neolithic, at the centre of the Mediterranean world and between Mediterranean and temperate Europe. It asks whether early Neolithic northern Italy had a fully farming economy, how was that economy characterised, what were its relations with preceding hunter-gatherer societies, whether there were movements of population, what role was played by geography, prestige goods and ritual objects. The project will provide important information to help us understand the spread of farming into western Europe and the west Mediterranean.

Long-term book project: The Magic Mountain: a symbolic and economic space, on the rôle mountains have played in human life and consciousness, using the southern Alps and the Apennines as case studies

Final publication of excavation in collaboration with Roberto Maggi (Direzione Regionale per i Beni culturali e paesaggistici della Liguria) of the early prehistoric (mid fourth millennium cal BC) copper mine at Monte Loreto, Liguria

Past Research

Understanding Italian prehistoric metallurgy: production, distribution and consumption - an AHRC research-leave-supported book project - M. Pearce, 2007. Bright Blades and Red Metal: essays on north Italian prehistoric metalwork. London: Accordia Research Institute (Specialist Studies on Italy 14). See Department publications page.

Excavation in collaboration with Roberto Maggi (Direzione Regionale per i Beni culturali e paesaggistici della Liguria) of the early prehistoric (mid fourth millennium cal BC) copper mine at Monte Loreto, Liguria (sponsors include AHRB Research Grant 1999-2002) - R. Maggi and M. Pearce, 2005. Mid fourth-millennium copper mining in Liguria, north-west Italy: the earliest known copper mines in Western Europe. Antiquity 79 (303): 66-77.

Survey in collaboration with Michael McCullagh (School of Geography) at the later fourth millennium cal BC copper mine at Libiola, Liguria.

Beneath the soil from Trent to Nene: Assessment of the performance of geophysical survey in the East Midlands - funded by the English Heritage Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. Report archived with the Archaeology Data Service.

Trent Valley Geoarchaeology Bibliographic Database - funded by the English Heritage Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. Report and database archived with the Archaeology Data Service.

Profiling the archaeological resource in Nottinghamshire for sustainability:

  • PEARCE, M, 2013. The spirit of the sword and spear Cambridge Archaeological Journal. 23(1), 55-67
  • PEARCE, M., 2013. Rethinking the north Italian early Neolithic Accordia Research Institute. (In Press.)
  • PEARCE, M, 2012. The absolute chronology of site IV at Terrina (Aléria, Haute-Corse) and early metallurgy on Corsica and Sardinia Accordia Research Papers. 12, 41-55
  • BINTLIFF, J and PEARCE, M, 2011. Introduction. In: BINTLIFF, J and PEARCE, M, eds., The Death of Archaeological Theory? Oxbow Books. 1-6
  • PEARCE, M, 2011. Have rumours of the 'Death of Theory' been exaggerated?. In: BINTLIFF, J and PEARCE, M, eds., The Death of Archaeological Theory? Oxbow Books. 80-89
  • PEARCE, M, 2011. Le evidenze archeologiche di estrazione mineraria preistorica in Italia settentrionale. In: GIARDINO, C, ed., Archeometallurgia: dalla conoscenza alla fruizione: Atti del Workshop, 22-25 maggio 2006: Cavallino (LE), Convento dei Domenicani Edipuglia. 253-266
  • MAGGI, R, CAMPANA, N and PEARCE, M, 2011. Pirotecnologia e cronologia. Novità da Monte Loreto. In: GIARDINO, C, ed., Archeometallurgia: dalla conoscenza alla fruizione: Atti del Workshop, 22-25 maggio 2006: Cavallino (LE), Convento dei Domenicani Edipuglia. 281-292
  • MCCULLAGH, M and PEARCE, M, 2011. The developing view: air photo interpretation in war and peace. In: NICOLIS, F, CIURLETTI, G and DE GUIO, A, eds., Archeologia della Grande Guerra/Archaeology of the Great War: Atti del Convegno Internazionale/Proceedings of the International Conference: 23/24.06.2006: Luserna, Trento Provincia autonoma di Trento, Soprintendenza per i Beni librari archivistici e archeologici, Settore beni archeologici. 177-203
  • BINTLIFF, J. and PEARCE, M., eds., 2011. The death of archaeological theory? Oxbow Books.
  • MAGGI, R. and PEARCE, M., 2010. Changing subsistence structures and the origins of mining in the Ligurian Apennine mountains. In: ANREITER, P. ET AL., ed., Mining in European History and its Impact on Environment and Human Societies – Proceedings for the 1st Mining in European History-Conference of the SFB-HIMAT, 12.-15. November 2009, Innsbruck Innsbruck University Press. 283-287
  • PEARCE, M, 2010. Review of V. Tiné, a cura di: 'Favella. Un villaggio del Neolitico antico nella Sibaritide' Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche. 60, 395-396
  • PEARCE, M, 2009. How much metal was there in circulation in Copper Age Italy?. In: KIENLIN, T.L. and ROBERTS, B.W., eds., Metals and Societies: Studies in honour of Barbara S. Ottaway Habelt. 277-284
  • PEARCE, M., 2009. A conversation with Lawrence Barfield - 16 October 2008 Accordia Research Papers. 11(2007-2008), x-xxviii
  • PEARCE, M, HAMILTON, S and BROWN, K., 2008. Ruth D. Whitehouse Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. 21(1), 5-17
  • PEARCE, M., 2008. Structured deposition in early neolithic Northern Italy Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. 21(1), 19-33
  • PEARCE, M., 2008. European heritage: A view from the periphery Archaeological Dialogues. 15(1), 51-53
  • PEARCE, M., 2008. Review of K. Kristiansen, T.B. Larsson: 'The Rise of Bronze Age Society: Travels, Transmissions and Transformations' European Journal of Archaeology. 10(2-3), 237-239
  • CAMPANA, N, MAGGI, R and PEARCE, M., 2008. Issel dixit. In: DE PASCALE, A, DEL LUCCHESE, A and RAGGIO, O., eds., La nascita della Paletnologia in Liguria. Personaggi, scoperte e collezioni tra XIX e XX secolo: Atti del Convegno Internazionale. Finale Ligure Borgo (Savona), 22-23 settembre 2006. Complesso di Santa Caterina – Auditorium. Museo Archeologico del Finale Bordighera – Finale Ligure: Istituto Internazionale di Studi Liguri. 305-311
  • PEARCE, M., 2007. Le città fallite. Considerazioni sulla robustezza delle istituzioni cittadine Athenaeum. 95(2), 815-818
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2007. Bright blades and red metal: Essays on north Italian prehistoric metalwork London: Accordia Research Institute.
  • CAMPANA, N, MAGGI, R, PEARCE, M and OTTOMANO, C., 2006. Quanto Rame? Stima della produzione mineraria del distretto di Sestri Levante fra IV e III millennio BC. In: COCCHI GENICK, D., ed., Materie prime e scambi nella preistoria italiana: Nel cinquantenario della fondazione dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria. Firenze, 25-27 novembre 2004 III. Florence: Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria. 1339-1348
  • CORTESOGNO, L, DE PASCALE, A, GAGGERO, L, MAGGI, R and PEARCE, M., 2006. Strumenti litici per estrazione mineraria: il caso di Monte Loreto (IV millennio BC). In: COCCHI GENICK, D, ed., Materie prime e scambi nella preistoria italiana: Nel cinquantenario della fondazione dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria. Firenze, 25-27 novembre 2004 II. Florence: Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria. 683-695
  • PEARCE, M., 2006. On Acheron’s shore? Echoes of Greek belief and practice in the north Italian Final Bronze and Early Iron Ages. In: HERRING, E, LEMOS, I, LO SCHIAVO, F, VAGNETTI, L, WHITEHOUSE, R and WILKINS, J., eds., Across Frontiers: Etruscans, Greeks, Phoenicians & Cypriots: Studies in honour of David Ridgway and Francesca Romana Serra Ridgway London: Accordia Research Institute. 471-476
  • MAGGI, R. and PEARCE, M.J., 2005. Fouilles dans les mines de cuivre (IVe millénaire Cal. BC) de Monte Loreto (Ligurie, nord-ouest de l'Italie) In: La première métallurgie en France et dans les pays limitrophes. 281-286
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2005. Review of G. Barker, T. Rasmussen: 'The Etruscans' Classical Review. 55(1), 273-274
  • MCCULLAGH, M.J. and PEARCE, M.J., 2004. Surveying the prehistoric copper mine at Libiola (Sestri Levante - GE), Italy. In: BALZARETTI, R., PEARCE, M. and WATKINS, C., eds., Ligurian landscapes: studies in archaeology, geography and history London: Accordia Research Institute. 83-95
  • BALZARETTI, R., PEARCE, M.J. and WATKINS, C., 2004. Ligurian landscapes: microhistory and environmental history. In: BALZARETTI, R., PEARCE, M.J. and WATKINS, C., eds., Ligurian landscapes: studies in archaeology, geography and history London: Accordia Research Institute. 1-6
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2004. The significance of bronze. In: BOGUCKI, P. and CRABTREE, P., eds., Ancient Europe 8000 B.C.-A.D 1000: encyclopedia of the Barbarian world Volume 1: The Mesolithic to Copper Age (c. 8000-2000 B.C.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 6-11
  • BALZARETTI, R., PEARCE, M. and WATKINS, C., eds., 2004. Ligurian landscapes: studies in archaeology, geography and history London: Accordia Research Institute.
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2004. The Italian Bronze Age. In: BOGUCKI, P. and CRABTREE, P., eds., Ancient Europe 8000 B.C.-A.D 1000: encyclopedia of the Barbarian world Volume 1: The Mesolithic to Copper Age (c. 8000-2000 B.C.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 34-42
  • BALZARETTI, R., PEARCE, M. and WATKINS, C., eds., 2004. Ligurian landscapes: studies in archaeology, geography and history London: Accordia Research Institute.
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2004. Editorial European Journal of Archaeology. 7(1), 5-8
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Review of British Barrows: a matter of life and death. Anne Woodward. Tempus, 2000, 160 pp. ISBN 0752425315 East Midland Historian. 13, 64-65
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Tra il fiume e la montagna: Voghera e il Vogherese prima di Roma. In: CAU, E., PAOLETTI, P. and SETTIA, A.A., eds., Dalla preistoria all'eta viscontea Voghera: EDO-Edizioni Oltrepò. 39-52, pls 7-11
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Una pianura tra le acque: preistoria e protostoria del cremonese. In: TOZZI, P., ed., Storia di Cremona: L'Età Antica Azzano San Paolo (BG): Bolis. 38-61
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Editorial European Journal of Archaeology. 6(1), 5-6
  • MAGGI, R. and PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Excavations at the fourth millennium cal BC copper mines at Monte Loreto (Liguria - NW Italy) In: Archaeometallurgy in Europe. 587-596
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Editorial European Journal of Archaeology. 6(2), 115-117
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2003. Editorial European Journal of Archaeology. 6(3), 227-229
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2002. Editorial European Journal of Archaeology. 5(2), 145-146
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2002. Reconstructing past transpennine trade routes: the Trebbia valley Archeologia Postmedievale. 6, 181-183
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2002. Miniere di rame in Val Trebbia (provincia di Genova) Archeologia Postmedievale. 6, 177-180
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2001. Le miniere di rame di Libiola e di Monte Loreto (Genova, Italia) In: Bell Beakers today: pottery, people, culture, symbols in prehistoric Europe. Proceedings of the International Colloquium. 633-635
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2001. Il rapporto tra archeologia e tutela dell'ambiente In: Atti del convegno internazionale di studi: Patrimonio storico-ambientale. Esperienze, progetti e prospettive per la valorizzazione delle aree rurali. 79-82
  • PEARCE, M.J., 2000. Metals make the world go round: the copper supply for Frattesina In: Metals make the world go round: the supply and circulation of metals in Bronze Age Europe. 108-115
  • RIDGWAY, D., SERRA RIDGWAY, F., PEARCE, M.J., HERRING, E., WHITEHOUSE, R. and WILKINS, J.B., eds., 2000. Ancient Italy in its Mediterranean setting: studies in honour of Ellen Macnamara London: Accordia Research Centre.
  • PEARCE, M., 2000. What this awl means: understanding the earliest Italian metalwork. In: RIDGWAY, D., ed., Ancient Italy in its Mediterranean setting: studies in honour of Ellen Macnamara London: Accordia Research Institute. 67-73
  • PEARCE, M.J., PERETTO, R. and TOZZI, P., 2000. Map 40 Patavium. In: TALBERT, R.J.A., ed., Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World: Map-by-Map Directory 1. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 587-596
  • PEARCE, M.J. and TOZZI, P., 2000. Map 39 Mediolanum. In: TALBERT, R.J.A., ed., Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World: Map-by-Map Directory 1. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 573-586
  • HARARI, M. and PEARCE, M.J., eds., 2000. Il protovillanoviano al di qua e al di là dell'Appennino. Atti della giornata di studio, Pavia, Collegio Ghislieri, 17 giugno 1995 Como: New Press.
  • CAMPANA, N., MAGGI, R. and PEARCE, M.J., 1999. Ricerche archeologiche nelle miniere di Libiola e di Monte Loreto (Genova) 3(Feb 1999), 9-10
  • HOWARD, A.J., SMITH, D.N., GARTON, D., HILLAM, J. and PEARCE, M.J., 1999. Middle to Late Holocene environments in the Middle to Lower Trent Valley. In: BROWN, A.G. and QUINE, T.A., eds., Fluvial Processes and Environmental Change Chichester: John Wiley. 165-178
  • ODDONE, M., MELONI, S., GENOVA, N., MACCABRUNI, C. and PEARCE, M.J., 1999. The provenance of the white marble from the Torre Civica excavations (Pavia, Italy) In: Arch?omat?riaux. Marbres et autres roches. ASMOSIA IV. Actes de la IV?me Conf?rence Internationale. 289-293
  • MCCULLAGH, M.J., MAGGI, R., PEARCE, M.J. and RATCLIFFE, J., 1999. From the ground up: visualising Ligurian archaeological sites In: Archaeology in the Age of the Internet - CAA 97 - Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology: Proceedings of the 25th Anniversary Conference. 265
  • PEARCE, M., 1999. M. VENTURINO GAMBARI (a cura di), Navigatori e contadini. Alba e la valle del Tanaro nella preistoria. Studi per una storia d'Alba. I ATHENAEUM- UNIVERSITA DI PAVIA. NUMBER 1, 295
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1999. La preistoria del comprensorio di San Colombano al Lambro. In: San Colombano al Lambro e il suo colle. Dalla preistoria all'alto medioevo 23-52
  • PEARCE,M.J., 1999. Il comprensorio di Pavia in et? protostorica e il problema di Pavia preromana Annali di Storia Pavese. 26, 251-257
  • PEARCE, M.J. and DE GUIO, A., 1999. Between the mountains and the plain: an integrated metals production and circulation system in later Bronze Age north-eastern Italy In: Prehistoric alpine environment, society and economy. Papers of the international colloquium PAESE 1997 in Zurich. 289-293
  • MONTANARI, M. and PEARCE, M.J., 1999. San Colombano al Lambro e il suo colle. Dalla preistoria all'alto medioevo
  • CAMPANA, N., MAGGI, R. and PEARCE, M.J., 1998. Miniere preistoriche di rame a Libiola e Monte Loreto. In: DEL LUCCHESE, A. and MAGGI, R., eds., Dal Diaspro al Bronzo. L'Et? del Rame e l'Et? del Bronzo in Liguria: 26 secoli di storia fra 3600 e 1000 anni avanti Cristo La Spezia: Luna Editore. 138-141
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1998. Urbanisation and state formation in Early Iron Age Northern Italy: Golasecca and Este In: Atti del XIII Congresso, UISPP. 571-576
  • PEARCE, M.J. and TOSI, M., eds., 1998. Papers from the EAA Third Annual Meeting at Ravenna 1997. Volume I: Pre- and Protohistory Oxford: Archaeopress.
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1998. New research on the terramare of northern Italy Antiquity. 72 (278), 743-746
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1998. The San Colombano Group: A Final Bronze Age Polity in North West Italy In: Atti del XIII Congresso, UISPP. 389-394
  • PEARCE, M.J. and TOSI, M., eds., 1998. Papers from the EAA Third Annual Meeting at Ravenna 1997. Volume II: Classical and Medieval Oxford: Archaeopress.
  • MAGGI, R. and PEARCE, M.J., 1998. Les mines pr?historiques de Libiola et Monte Loreto (nouvelles fouilles) In: Pal?om?tallurgie des cuivres. Actes du colloque de Bourg-en-Bresse et Beaune. 89-93
  • CAMPANA, N., MAGGI, R. and PEARCE, M.J., 1998. Libiola e Monte Loreto: due miniere di rame preistoriche nella Liguria orientale In: Le Scienze della Terra e l'Archeometria. 175-179
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1998. Reconstructing prehistoric metallurgical knowledge: the northern Italian Copper and Bronze Ages European Journal of Archaeology. 1(1), 51-70
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1997. Badia Pavese (PV) San Tommaso: un central place nel quadro dei rapporti tra Italia nord-occidentale e tirrenica In: Protovillanoviani e/o Protoetruschi: Ricerche e scavi. Atti del III Incontro di Studi. 195-202
  • GARTON, D., HOWARD, A. and PEARCE, M.J., 1997. Archaeological investigations at Langford Quarry, Nottinghamshire 1995-6 Tarmac Papers. 1, 29-40
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1997. 'Benedictine monks in Dark Age Italy' [review of Richard Hodges. Light in the Dark Ages. London 1997] British Archaeology. 30(Dec 1997), 13
  • PEARCE, M.J., MELONI, S., SETTI, M., GENOVA, N., ODDONE, M. and MUGGIA, A., 1996. A multi-disciplinary investigation of Roman bricks from the Torre Civica-Pavia (NW Italy) Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage. 5(2), 19-27
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1996. Ripostigli del Bronzo Antico nel territorio di Milano e Pavia In: LÃantica et? del bronzo in Italia. Atti del Congresso Nazionale, Viareggio. 550-551
  • MELONI, S., GENOVA, N., ODDONE, M., PEARCE, M.J., SETTI, M. and MACCABRUNI, C., 1996. New Contributions of Neutron Activation Analysis to Archaeometric Research In: Proceedings of the 2nd National Joint Congress SIRR - GIR, Palermo. 433-438
  • MELONI, S., ODDONE, M., GENOVA, N., PEARCE, M.J., SETTI, M. and ZEZZA, U., 1996. Contributions of Neutron Activation Analysis to Archaeometric Research In: Radiations: from Theory to Multidisciplinary Applications. Proceedings of the 1st National Joint Congress. 108-112
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1996. Confronti tra ricerche di superficie: i casi di Lomello (PV) e Stoke by Nayland (Suffolk - GB) In: La ricerca archeologica di superficie in area padana. Atti del workshop. 363-373
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1996. From the Stour to the Po: landscape archaeology in Suffolk and northern Italy. In: WILSON, R.J.A., ed., From River Trent to Raqqa. Nottingham University archaeological fieldwork in Britain, Europe and the Middle East, 1991-1995 Nottingham: University of Nottingham. 15-17
  • GARTON, D., HOWARD, A. and PEARCE, M.J., 1996. Neolithic riverside ritual? Excavations at Langford Lowfields, Nottinghamshire. In: WILSON, R.J.A., ed., From River Trent to Raqqa. Nottingham University archaeological fieldwork in Britain, Europe and the Middle East, 1991-1995 Nottingham: University of Nottingham. 9-11
  • PEARCE, M.J. and GABBA, E., 1995. Dalle terremare a Roma: Wolfgang Helbig e la teoria delle origini degli Italici Rivista Storica Italiana. 107(1), 119-132
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1995. Exchange northwards from peninsular Italy in the first millennium BC: the western Po Plain and the Alpine passes In: Italy in Europe: Economic Relations 700BC-AD50. 145-157
  • MELONI, S., GENOVA, N., ODDONE, M., SETTI, M., MUGGIA, A. and PEARCE, M.J., 1995. Mineralogia, petrografia ed analisi per attivazione neutronica applicate ad un problema archeometrico: i laterizi della Torre Civica di Pavia In: Le Scienze della Terra e lÃArcheometria. 117-119
  • PEARCE, M., 1994. Il territorio di Milano e Pavia tra mesolitico e prima eta del ferro : dalla carta archeologica alla ricostruzione del paesaggio Florence: Nuova Italia.
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1993. The origins of metallurgy and ore sources: a north Italian case study Accordia Research Papers. 4, 49-62
  • PEARCE, M.J., 1993. Provenance problems and neutron activation analysis In: Actes du XIIe CongrŠs International des Sciences Pr,historiques et Protohistoriques. 237-241

Department of Archaeology

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