For over twenty years, Dan has conducted archaeological research within the Chicagoland area, Great Lakes Region, and Kenya. His research focuses on urban archaeology, history, and environmental studies, including pre- and post-contact periods, 18th & 19th Century Euro-American and Indigenous trade, urbanism, and Indigenous removal. Dan has personally documented hundreds of sites over the years, which he has compiled into a large geospatial database. This includes Indigenous and settler sites within Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
His M.A. thesis: 1) examined the interaction between culturally distinct groups and identified the socio-cultural impact these forces had on past Indigenous identity; and 2) identified how colonialism, settlement, and removal influenced 20th & 21stCentury heritage memory and its continued impact on current social issues, making it relevant to First Nation groups today.
Dan works with Menominee and Potawatomi descendants of Chief Alexander Robinson (Che-Che-Pin-Qua), documenting the history of the Chief, his family, and cemetery, and is their appointed Family Historian. Dan was honored to be named the City Archaeologist of Palos Hills and a Board Member for the Chicago Archaeological Society.
In Kenya, Dan’s research focuses on prehistoric site survey and ethnographic studies. He also own a coffee farm in Western Kenya.