Should the need arise for outside archaeological consultants or analysts arise, MARS, Inc. contracts with the
following specialists:
- Mr. Steven Kuehn (Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program) Faunal Analysis
- Dr. Kathyryn Egan-Brughy (Commonwealth Cultural resources Group, Inc.) Floral Analysis
- Dr. Anne Graur (Loyola University) Bioanthropology
- Dr. Michael Kolb (Strata Morph Geoexploration, Inc.) Geomorphological Studies
- Ms. Jean L. Guarinos HABS/HAER
Dr. Rochelle Lurie, RPA (President of MARS, Inc., and Principal Investigator) She received her doctorate degree
in Anthropology from Northwestern University (Ph.D. 1982), and has been actively engaged in Illinois archaeological
research since 1975. She is a past President of the Illinois Archaeological Survey (IAS) and is on board of several
Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology chapters. Additionally, Dr. Lurie has served on the Illinois
Historical Sites Advisory Council (1991-1993). Her areas of interest and expertise include Archaic and Mississippian
subsistence and settlement patterns, and lithic analysis.
Dr. M. Catherine Bird, RPA (Corporate Secretary of MARS, Inc., Principal Investigator) has been with MARS,
Inc. since the company formed in 1986. She received her doctorate in Anthropology with a minor in Geography from
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1997 and has experience working in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana
since 1983. She is a board member and Chair of the membership committee within the Illinois Archaeological Survey
professional organization as well as a member of Friends of the Pleistocene. Her interests and expertise are in
Langford Tradition Mississippian settlement, culture contact situations, archival research, nineteenth century rural
economy, grave furniture, and Native American ceramic analysis.
Ms. Clare Tolmie, RPA (Senior Archaeologist) received her Masters Degree in Anthropology from the
University of Iowa in 1992, and her B.A. in Archaeology from the University of Southampton, England in 1983. She
has experience working in the Midwestern and Western United States as well as in several European countries. She
has directed projects in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa as a Project Supervisor with MARS, Inc. since 1997. Ms. Tolmie
is a board member of the Illinois Archaeological Survey and Chair of the Public Service Committee. Her areas of
expertise include paleoethnobotany, faunal analysis, and hunter-gatherer subsistence.
Mr. Richard B. Johnson (Senior Archaeologist) received his Masters Degree in Anthropology from the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1997, and his B.A. in Anthropology from University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) in
1990. He has experience working in the Midwest and has directed projects for MARS, Inc. beginning in 1986. Mr.
Johnson’s areas of expertise include Meso-American archaeology, pre-Clovis settlement of the Americas, and
Pleistocene climate and ecology.
Mr. John Eric Deetz (Architectural Historian) received his Masters Degree in Anthropology and Heritage
Management from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Hired in September of 2005, Eric has
experience working on colonial sites in St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands), Bermuda, Barbados, and Virginia as well as on
prehistoric sites in Illinois, Indiana, California, and Virginia. His thesis focused on the transference of architectural
traditions in a colonial setting; interests include vernacular architecture and GIS data management.
Mr. Jay Martinez ( Archaeological Technician) completed his B.A. in History at Illinois State University (ISU) in
2004.He is presently a graduate student at Northern Illinois University (NIU), and expects to receive his Masters
Degree in Anthropology in May 2009. The working title for his NIU thesis is Upland Land Use in Northeastern
Illinois: A Revisit to the Fiske School (11-MH-30) to Determine Site Use. Jay has been working for MARS, Inc. as
an archaeological technician since 2006.
Ms. Michelle Birnbaum ( Archaeological Technician) received her Masters Degree in Library Science from the State
University-Albany in 1993, and her B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1991. Ms.
Birnbaum is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, experienced in the use of
ArcGIS for spatial analysis, and trained in utilizing a Niton XRF hand held analyzer and in analyzing petrographic
ceramic thin section. She has experience working in the Midwestern United States for MARS, Inc. since 2003.
in Anthropology from Northwestern University (Ph.D. 1982), and has been actively engaged in Illinois archaeological
research since 1975. She is a past President of the Illinois Archaeological Survey (IAS) and is on board of several
Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology chapters. Additionally, Dr. Lurie has served on the Illinois
Historical Sites Advisory Council (1991-1993). Her areas of interest and expertise include Archaic and Mississippian
subsistence and settlement patterns, and lithic analysis.
Dr. M. Catherine Bird, RPA (Corporate Secretary of MARS, Inc., Principal Investigator) has been with MARS,
Inc. since the company formed in 1986. She received her doctorate in Anthropology with a minor in Geography from
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1997 and has experience working in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana
since 1983. She is a board member and Chair of the membership committee within the Illinois Archaeological Survey
professional organization as well as a member of Friends of the Pleistocene. Her interests and expertise are in
Langford Tradition Mississippian settlement, culture contact situations, archival research, nineteenth century rural
economy, grave furniture, and Native American ceramic analysis.
Ms. Clare Tolmie, RPA (Senior Archaeologist) received her Masters Degree in Anthropology from the
University of Iowa in 1992, and her B.A. in Archaeology from the University of Southampton, England in 1983. She
has experience working in the Midwestern and Western United States as well as in several European countries. She
has directed projects in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa as a Project Supervisor with MARS, Inc. since 1997. Ms. Tolmie
is a board member of the Illinois Archaeological Survey and Chair of the Public Service Committee. Her areas of
expertise include paleoethnobotany, faunal analysis, and hunter-gatherer subsistence.
Mr. Richard B. Johnson (Senior Archaeologist) received his Masters Degree in Anthropology from the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1997, and his B.A. in Anthropology from University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) in
1990. He has experience working in the Midwest and has directed projects for MARS, Inc. beginning in 1986. Mr.
Johnson’s areas of expertise include Meso-American archaeology, pre-Clovis settlement of the Americas, and
Pleistocene climate and ecology.
Mr. John Eric Deetz (Architectural Historian) received his Masters Degree in Anthropology and Heritage
Management from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Hired in September of 2005, Eric has
experience working on colonial sites in St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands), Bermuda, Barbados, and Virginia as well as on
prehistoric sites in Illinois, Indiana, California, and Virginia. His thesis focused on the transference of architectural
traditions in a colonial setting; interests include vernacular architecture and GIS data management.
Mr. Jay Martinez ( Archaeological Technician) completed his B.A. in History at Illinois State University (ISU) in
2004.He is presently a graduate student at Northern Illinois University (NIU), and expects to receive his Masters
Degree in Anthropology in May 2009. The working title for his NIU thesis is Upland Land Use in Northeastern
Illinois: A Revisit to the Fiske School (11-MH-30) to Determine Site Use. Jay has been working for MARS, Inc. as
an archaeological technician since 2006.
Ms. Michelle Birnbaum ( Archaeological Technician) received her Masters Degree in Library Science from the State
University-Albany in 1993, and her B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1991. Ms.
Birnbaum is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, experienced in the use of
ArcGIS for spatial analysis, and trained in utilizing a Niton XRF hand held analyzer and in analyzing petrographic
ceramic thin section. She has experience working in the Midwestern United States for MARS, Inc. since 2003.
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EMAIL
EMAIL
Please direct all
business inquiries to the
Corporate Secretary
business inquiries to the
Corporate Secretary