Erin Donovan earned her undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of Colorado, focusing on North American Archaeology and Museum Studies. She also holds a Masters in Applied Anthropology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Her career has taken her in many directions. She has worked in the field excavating archaeological remains, directed and curated at local history museums, taught history and anthropology as an assistant professor at the community college level, and most recently finds employment as a contract registrar coordinating loans and exhibitions for an art museum and collections management at the university-collection level. In addition to employment in the archaeological and museum fields, she actively volunteers her time, currently sitting on a steering committee for the local Indian Center. Ms. Donovan founded Ancient Excursions to make the world of archaeology more accessible to the public. She hopes that these unique, semi-academic tours will not only inspire and thrill tourists, but will bring much needed funding into world heritage archaeological sites.

Douglas C. Comer, Ph.D., is Principal of Cultural Site Research and Management, Inc. (CSRM), a company located in Baltimore, MD, that provides archaeological research services and consultation in cultural resource management, specializing in cultural site management. CSRM is active in the United States, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central America.

Dr. Comer has almost three decades of experience in archaeological research, managing archaeological sites, cultural resource management, satellite and aerial remote sensing, and planning and design for site development and protection, and is internationally recognized as an expert in these fields. He has been the Chief of the U.S. National Park Service Applied Archaeology Center, a Fulbright Scholar in cultural resource management, the Chair of the Maryland Governors Advisory Committee on Archaeology, and is currently on the Board of Trustees for the United States Committee for the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), as well as being Vice-President for North America of the International Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management for ICOMOS. He has published extensively on archaeology and cultural site and landscape management, including the book Ritual Ground, published by the University of California Press.

He has been actively involved in archaeological research at Petra for over a decade, utilizing satellite and aerial remote sensing technologies and computer analysis and modeling.

Elizabeth Anderson Comer brings more than 30 years of archaeological experience to the company. As the sole proprietor of EAC Archaeology, she works diligently to bring archaeology into the public arena, promoting heritage tourism, public archaeology, and thoughtful approaches to cultural resource management.

Elizabeth's distinguished career includes five years as City Archaeologist and Director of the Baltimore Center for Urban Archaeology in Baltimore, Maryland. During her tenure there, she made national and international news for her groundbreaking approach to public archaeology at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and again at the Greater Baltimore Brewery Dig. Elizabeth then went on to spend nine years in the Maryland Division of Tourism and Promotion, with six of those years as the Chief Administrator, before opening her own company.

In addition to lending her vast knowledge to Ancient Excursions, Elizabeth's background helps the company achieve its goal of promoting sustainable tourism and heritage development in the countries that it visits.

Dr. Snarskis, most recently recognized for his ground-breaking work at a 2000-year-old burial ground, has also been credited with discovering the first Paleoindian quarry and workshop in Costa Rica (also the earliest evidence of humans in the country), and with discovering the earliest pottery complexes in the region. He has published extensively on diverse topics relating to the archaeology of the region, with over 55 books and articles to date.

A graduate of Columbia University, Dr. Snarskis founded and directed the Department of Archaeological Research at the National Museum, was Professor of Archaeology at the University of Costa Rica for 14 years, and has been featured on the Discovery Channel.

Join Ancient Excursions and enjoy his expertise as we tour museums, and the cultural and natural wonders of Guayabo de Turrialba Archaeological Park.

Ruth is a co-founder and tour operator with Focus Tours. Focus Tours was formed by two dual Costa Rican-U.S. citizens in response to the demand of numerous friends and colleagues for tours in Costa Rica that are based on a clear understanding of the local culture, as well as the needs and interests of responsible tourists. Raised in the United States and having lived and integrated into the Costa Rican society for over a decade, Focus Tours is in a unique position to help make connections that contribute to raised awareness and cultural understanding. Their mission is to promote increased awareness, knowledge, and understanding among students, scholars, and the general public through providing unique, focused tours in Costa Rica.

The services offered by Focus Tours include:

• Focused Tours - These tours are developed as customized tours for pre-established groups, and are based around certain learning topics or areas of interest determined by your group.
• Short and medium-term courses - We arrange courses for high school, university and continuing education groups. Courses can be arranged as a complete package, including local instructors and learning materials, or in conjunction with pre-established courses and your professors.
• Organization of volunteer service opportunities - We facilitate local volunteer opportunities for groups or individuals.

Focus Tours has developed enriching tours in several focus areas. If you are interested in developing a tour or course outside of these topics, please consult us regarding the possibilities of responding to your specific interests.

• Global health
• Women’s Issues
• Rural enterprise development
• Fair Trade
• Education
• Archaeology
• Folklore and traditional crafts

Focus Tours arranges their tours and educational experiences in accordance with a core set of values. They work to involve local communities in our tours and to assure that they are fairly compensated for their participation. They use their contacts to connect tourists with local people, giving them a chance to interact and share experiences and knowledge.

By valuing local knowledge and traditions, they incorporate lessons from local traditions into our tours and courses. They put the present into context by determining how local wisdom and traditions affect the way in which Costa Ricans are adapting to a changing world.

Aron Maggiore was born and raised in the beautiful town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It was here that the seed of his passion and love for the best in cuisine was first planted. Family holidays, get-togethers, down to the basic nightly dinner were always special events in the kitchen, always getting the kids involved.

After graduating high school, he headed to the eastern slope of Colorado to pursue his culinary dreams. He graduated the Art Institute International of Denver's Culinary Program with honors, and worked in some of Denver's hottest restaurants, including Palomino Euro-Bistro, Potager, and Bistro Vendome. It was here that he continued to hone his skills as an aspiring chef, delving into the French and other European classics to upscale, contemporary cuisine.

But, alas, he still longed for the quieter comforts of the mountains. Now he has returned to the Roaring Fork Valley and is very excited and enthusiastic about joining the Ancient Excusions team, to provide fun and top-notch cuisine on our adventures together.

Catherine is an art historian, holding degrees from Vassar, Harvard, and Columbia, and has been a resident of Paris since 1978. She will create a magical and memorable experience for you as we travel through Paris and the French countryside. Catherine is Founder and Director of the Franco-American Cultural Club, a non-profit organization that created at least 800 events between 1985-2005 with and for Parisians.