Archeodunum

What Archeodunum does

Archeodunum is a privately held preventive-archaeology operator founded around 1994, headquartered in Switzerland (Archeodunum SA) with a French operating subsidiary (Archeodunum SAS). The firm delivers archaeological services required by French and Swiss regulation prior to construction and development, with contract values ranging from €1,000 to €7,300,000 and excavation surfaces from 10 m² to 26.5 hectares. It operates a multi-agency network of five offices in France and one in Switzerland, employing more than 100 specialized archaeologists, and has completed over 500 operations and 300 dossiers across its history.

Its service portfolio is organized around five core lines: preventive excavations (fouilles préventives), built-heritage archaeology (archéologie du bâti), artifact studies (études de mobiliers), environmental studies (geoarchaeology and carpology), and technical services (topographic survey, GIS/SIG mapping, photography, archaeozoology). Underlying workflows rely on conventional field archaeology, GIS-based site documentation, and post-excavation laboratory analysis; there is no indication of AI/ML or proprietary software platforms driving operations.

Commercially, Archeodunum runs a project-based professional-services model with quote-driven pricing and multi-year contracts. Distribution is direct, through website contact forms, phone inquiries, and in-person consultations at its agency offices, with no intermediaries or resellers. Customers are split across construction and development firms, public-sector prescribers and municipalities (Service Régional de l'Archéologie, Archéologie Cantonale de Vaud, French communes), and private property owners. The firm is accredited by the French Ministry of Culture (agrément), which is a regulatory precondition for conducting prescribed excavations in France, and it supplements commercial work through research collaborations with Nantes Université (CReAAH-LARA), the ERC NEOSEA project at the University of Gothenburg, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, and Université Grenoble Alpes.

Name

Archeodunum

Legal name

Archeodunum

Website

https://archeodunum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Archeodunum is a private preventive-archaeology operator founded around 1994, conducting prescribed excavations and heritage studies across France and Switzerland. With 100+ archaeologists, six regional agencies, and 500+ completed operations, it serves construction developers, municipalities, and public heritage authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chaponnay

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Archaeological Services: Preventive archaeology services for construction and development projects, including excavations, studies, and technical services. Projects range from €1,000 to €7,300,000

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Archeodunum is an approved preventive archaeology operator (opérateur agréé en archéologie préventive) that performs archaeological excavations, studies, and technical services before construction or development projects in France and Switzerland. Its services cover site assessment, full-scale excavation, built heritage analysis, environmental studies, and post-excavation valorization, supported by a team of more than 100 archaeologists across six agencies.

Product overview

Archeodunum operates as a preventive archaeology service provider with a multi-agency network across France (five agencies) and Switzerland (one agency). The company offers a comprehensive suite of archaeological services including preventive excavations, built heritage studies, artifact analysis, environmental studies, and technical services. The core offering consists of preventive excavations (fouilles préventives) conducted before construction projects, complemented by specialized studies in built archaeology, mobiliers (artifact studies), and environmental assessments. Technical support services include topography, GIS mapping, photography, archaeozoology, and ceramology training. The company publishes a quarterly internal bulletin (bulletin de liaison) and maintains scientific engagement through research projects and academic partnerships. With over 100 archaeologists and 30 years of experience, Archeodunum handles projects ranging from €1,000 to €7.3 million and excavation surfaces from 10 m² to 26.5 hectares.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fouilles préventives (Preventive Excavations) Preventive archaeological excavations conducted before construction projects, covering sites from the Neolithic period to modern times, with excavation areas ranging from 10 m² to 26.5 hectares. Core service for construction developers, public entities, and property owners requiring archaeological assessment.
• Archéologie du bâti (Built Heritage Archaeology) Built heritage archaeology services including architectural analysis and study of standing structures, such as the châtelet d'Ancenis and the tour du Fort d'Empurany. Designed for municipalities and heritage authorities undertaking restoration projects.
• Etudes de mobiliers archéologiques (Artifact Studies) Analysis and study of archaeological artifacts including ceramics, metal objects, and other movable heritage items recovered during excavations. Follows excavation fieldwork to classify and interpret recovered objects.
• Etudes environnementales (Environmental Studies) Environmental studies accompanying archaeological operations, including geoarchaeology, carpology (seed/fruit analysis), and environmental profiling of excavation sites. Complements excavation projects with landscape and environmental context.
• Prestations techniques (Technical Services) Technical services including topographic surveys, GIS mapping, archaeological photography, archaeozoology, ceramology training, and other specialized technical support for excavation projects.
• Cartographie et SIG (GIS Mapping) Mapping services using Geographic Information Systems (SIG) for site documentation, operational mapping of excavation areas, and research coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 300 completed dossiers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nantes Université (CReAAH-LARA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Archeodunum supports research programs coordinated by Nantes Université on Neolithic occupations in the Vilaine basin, contributing scientific expertise and funding to the research project led by Audrey Blanchard.
• ERC NEOSEA (University of Gothenburg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022European Research Council project on neolithic discoveries supported by Archeodunum, collaborating with University of Gothenburg on research program for Neolithic sites.
• Grenoble-Alpes MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch mission carried by Grenoble-Alpes Métropole with support from DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Department of Isère, and University Grenoble Alpes for Chartreuse de Prémol excavation.
• Université Grenoble AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for student training and research, with students from University Grenoble Alpes participating in excavation fieldwork as part of educational programs.
• Service Régional de l'ArchéologiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment archaeological services that prescribe and control archaeological operations, working in partnership for all preventive archaeology projects in France.
• Archéologie Cantonale du canton de VaudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss cantonal archaeological authority that prescribes and controls archaeological operations in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Archéo Concept: Swiss preventive archaeology operator based in French-speaking Switzerland, providing excavation and study services for cantonal authorities and developers. Direct geographic and functional peer to Archeodunum's Swiss operations.
• Oxford Archaeology: UK archaeological services firm conducting commercial excavations, heritage assessments, and research. Operates with comparable multi-office professional services model and serves developer and government clients, similar to Archeodunum's positioning.
• Éveha: One of France's largest private agréé preventive archaeology operators, offering excavation, studies, and heritage services nationwide. Direct competitor to Archeodunum for the same pool of prescribed public-sector and developer-led projects in France.
• Wessex Archaeology: UK-based commercial archaeology consultancy providing fieldwork, post-excavation analysis, and heritage services to developers and public bodies. Comparable in business model (prescribed/developer-led preventive work, multi-office, integrated services) to Archeodunum.
• MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology): UK independent archaeological services provider offering fieldwork, post-excavation, and built-heritage services for infrastructure and development projects. Closely comparable in service mix, project scale range, and developer/government client base.
• Archéologie Alsace: Regional French agréé operator offering preventive excavations and archaeological studies, primarily in eastern France. Direct peer in scope of services and regulatory standing, though geographically more focused than Archeodunum.
• Hadès Archéologie: French private agréé operator in preventive archaeology conducting excavations, diagnostic studies, and post-excavation analysis. Directly comparable in scale, services, and client base to Archeodunum.
• SDA - Société de Diagnostic Archéologique: French preventive archaeology operator providing field diagnostics, excavations, and artifact studies. Competes with Archeodunum on prescribed developer and public-sector projects across France.

Broad incumbents

• INRAP: France's national public institute for preventive archaeological research (Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives). It is the dominant state-backed operator that competes with Archeodunum for prescribed projects and sets baseline pricing and scientific standards across France.

Others

• Service Régional de l'Archéologie (DRAC): French regional state service under the Ministry of Culture that prescribes and controls archaeological operations. While not a commercial peer, it is Archeodunum's key institutional counterpart and the gatekeeper for project flow, making it ecosystemically central.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/archeodunum
• Facebookfacebook.com/Archeodunum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/archeodunum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Archeodunum