About Eileen

Dr. Eileen Ernenwein brings a decade of experience contributing to archaeological research and implementing her expertise in geophysics and GIS. Her pioneering work on archaeo-geophysical data fusion and her advances in GPR data processing have earned Ernenwein a position among the top archae-geophysical practitioners in the world.

Ernenwein’s primary area of interest is human spatial behavior as revealed by geophysical maps and targeted excavations. Her work shows the value of merging all available data to derive a comprehensive understanding of archaeological sites based on their geophysical footprint. Ernenwein brings extensive experience with ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic induction (EMI), magnetometry, and resistivity technologies to map and understand buried archaeological features.

Dr. Ernenwein has conducted geophysical surveys and archaeological investigations in North America’s Great Plains, Rocky Mountains Region, Sacramento Valley, and the American Northwest, Southwest, Mid-South, and Southeast. Ernenwein has also lent her expertise to clients at Petra, Jordan. Phoenician sites in Portugal, and in Tiwanaku, Bolivia.

Dr. Ernenwein studied under Dr. Larry Conyers while earning her Master’s Degree at the University of Denver, and received her Doctorate under Dr. Kenneth L. Kvamme at the University of Arkansas. She continues to work closely with the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies at the University of Arkansas developing cutting-edge software for the processing and integration of multidimensional archaeogeophysical data.

Ernenwein lives in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town, where she teaches classes at East Tennessee State University and spends downtime exploring caves and mountain trails with her family.

Download PDF: Ernenwein’s Curriculum Vitae

About Elsa

Elsa Heckman McMakin, M.A.,

A superb communicator with a strong background in archaeology, McMakin brings a different approach from geophysical practitioners who may understand how to collect geophysical data, but can be inexperienced in reading and interpreting the results in an archaeological context.

Excited by the implications of investigating archeological sites without necessarily destroying them, McMakin is a resourceful archaeologist who has conducted archaeological investigations utilizing traditional and advanced technological means for the past ten years.

She has distinguished herself in the field by implementing geophysics, traditional methods, GIS, and remote-sensing on archaeological sites, discerning the unique advantages of these approaches, and sharing those outcomes in support of clients in cultural resource management, non-profit, private industry, government, and academia.

Her research in the realm of Battlefield Archaeology, fusing conventional metal-detecting with state-of-the-art geophysical prospection methods to arrive at an advanced understanding of how best to conduct archaeological investigations on battlefields, was the first of its kind to systematically evaluate traditional survey methods compared with more modern forms of geophysical investigations on battlefield sites.

McMakin earned her Master’s Degree, specializing in Archaeological Remote-Sensing, under Dr. Ken Kvamme at the University of Arkansas.

McMakin brings combined experience in archaeology and geophysics in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana, McMakin makes her home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina. She loves dogs--even when wet from a cold river on a hot day--and enjoys preparing meals to delight family and friends.

Download PDF: McMakin’s Curriculum Vitae