Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants

What Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants does

Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc. is a woman-owned cultural resource management (CRM) and historic preservation consulting firm headquartered at 124 South Main Street, Pine Mountain, Georgia, founded in 1993 by Kay Wood (President) and Dean Wood (Special Projects Director). The firm provides archaeological and historical investigation services to government agencies (federal, state, county, municipal), private developers, utilities, and educational institutions primarily across the southeastern United States. Its service portfolio follows the standard phased CRM workflow — due diligence and records review, Phase I surveys (archaeological, historic, and combined cultural resources), Phase II testing, and Phase III data recovery and mitigation — supplemented by specialized offerings in cemetery services, industrial archaeology of historic mill sites, HABS/HAER/HALS photographic documentation, National Register of Historic Places nominations, public history and education programs, and historic preservation planning.

The firm's underlying technical capabilities are built on conventional archaeological and historical field investigation methodologies rather than proprietary software platforms: pedestrian survey with shovel testing, GIS-based spatial analysis and viewshed work, remote sensing (Ground Penetrating Radar, magnetometer, metal detection), intensive surface collection, side-scan sonar (delivered via partner SEARCH, Inc.), and large-format HABS/HAER/HALS documentation. A dedicated Lab Manager (Gretchen Eggiman) oversees artifact processing, stabilization, identification, data entry, and preparation for permanent curation. The firm's intellectual property is largely institutional knowledge accumulated across 1,500+ studies since 1993 and the deep regional expertise of its 10-person staff, who collectively hold over 200 years of experience and include Registered Professional Archaeologists and credentialed historians.

Southern Research operates as a fee-for-service professional services firm with project-based, quote-based engagement. Work is won through competitive procurement (RFPs), cooperative agreements with public agencies, and direct negotiation with private developers, utilities, and communications companies. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market model is relationship-driven and field-based: the firm maintains multi-year master relationships with the U.S. Forest Service (across Chattahoochee-Oconee, Bankhead, and Nantahala National Forests) and Georgia Power (FERC-licensed dam decommissioning), supplemented by recurring county- and state-level government work plus episodic private developer projects. Revenue mechanics are professional services billing against project scopes. Ownership is concentrated with the founding Wood family, with no external institutional investment, parent company, or funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants

Legal name

Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc.

Website

https://southres.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern Research is a woman-owned cultural resource management and historic preservation consulting firm in Pine Mountain, Georgia, providing archaeological and historical investigation services to government agencies, developers, and utilities across the southeastern United States since 1993.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Resource Management and Historic Preservation Consulting

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJACAC

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

SECONDARYTHAJADAG

Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYBPAHALAE

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom)

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Research, Analytics & Expert Services

Keywords

• Cultural resource management
• Historic preservation consulting
• Archaeological surveys
• Section 106 compliance
• Industrial archaeology

Headquarters

HQ city

Waverly Hall

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cultural Resource Management Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements for archaeological and historical investigations, compliance surveys, and documentation services. Projects are contracted on a per-project basis for government and private sector clients, involving Phase I, II, and III investigations, cemetery services, public history, and NRHP nominations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southern Research provides fee-for-service Cultural Resource Management and Historic Preservation consulting for government agencies, developers, and utilities across the southeastern United States. Engagements span the standard phased archaeological and historic investigation process (Due Diligence/Records Review & Reconnaissance, Phase I Archaeological/Historic/Cultural Resources Surveys, Phase II Testing, Phase III Data Recovery/Mitigation) together with specialized services including Cemetery Services, Industrial Archaeology & History, HABS/HAER/HALS Documentation, Historic Contexts/Preservation Plans, National Register of Historic Places Nominations, and Public History & Education.

Product overview

Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants offers a comprehensive suite of cultural resource management services structured around the standard phased investigation process. The core service sequence begins with Due Diligence/Records Review & Reconnaissance, progresses through Phase I Survey (offered separately for Archaeological Resources, Historic Resources, and combined Cultural Resources), Phase II Testing for site eligibility determination, and Phase III Data Recovery/Mitigation. Complementing the phased approach are specialized services including Cemetery Services, Public History & Education, Industrial Archaeology & History, HABS/HAER/HALS Documentation, Historic Contexts/Preservation Plans/Assessment of Effects, and National Register of Historic Places Nominations. The company operates across the southeastern United States serving developers, utilities and infrastructure clients, government agencies, and public education initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Due Diligence / Records Review & Reconnaissance Background research and initial assessment service including database searches, historic map analysis, aerial imagery review, site visits, and reconnaissance surveys to determine the presence or likelihood of cultural resources in a project area. Sold to developers, utilities, and government agencies preparing for ground-disturbing projects.
• Phase I Survey (Archaeological Resources) Systematic, intensive archaeological site identification through pedestrian survey and shovel testing, covering tracts from less than one acre to thousands of acres with methodologies tailored to state laws and geographic conditions. Sold to developers, utilities, and government agencies.
• Phase I Survey (Historic Resources) Above-ground historic resource identification for commercial buildings, houses, railroads, cemeteries, and historic districts more than 50 years old, including NRHP eligibility recommendations. Sold to developers, utilities, and government agencies.
• Phase I Survey (Cultural Resources) Combined archaeological and historic resource identification including physical and visual area of potential effect (APE) analysis with line-of-sight and viewshed analysis using GIS. Sold to developers, utilities, and government agencies.
• Phase II Testing Site evaluation to determine NRHP eligibility through additional shovel tests, larger excavation units, metal detection, remote sensing (GPR, magnetometer), intensive surface collection, and detailed site mapping. Sold to developers, utilities, and government agencies.
• Phase III Data Recovery / Mitigation Archaeological data recovery efforts and mitigation measures when adverse effects to NRHP-eligible properties cannot be avoided, including extensive excavations and creative mitigation alternatives. Sold to developers, utilities, and government agencies.
• Cemetery Services Comprehensive cemetery documentation including searching for lost cemeteries, mapping and boundary delineation, deed and genealogical research, condition assessments, disinterment and relocation, and preservation management plans using visual inspection, GPR, probing, and backhoe excavation. Sold to developers, counties, and government agencies.
• Public History & Education Translation of historical research findings for public audiences through site visits, tours, museum exhibits, interpretive panels and kiosks, public lectures, and media interviews. Sold to counties, museums, universities, and community organizations.
• Industrial Archaeology & History Historical and archaeological studies on nineteenth and early twentieth century industrial sites including grist mills, textile factories, power generating facilities, dams, historic railroads, sawmills, paper mills, and cotton seed oil mills. Sold to utilities, energy companies, developers, and government agencies.
• HABS/HAER/HALS Documentation Historic American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and Historic American Landscapes Survey documentation involving detailed drawings, high-resolution photography, and contextual narratives. Sold to federal and state agencies and private clients.
• Historic Contexts, Preservation Plans, Assessment of Effects Development of historic narratives and contexts, cultural resources preservation and protection plans, landscape studies, data recovery plans, Memoranda of Agreement, Assessment of Effects, and specialized documents. Sold to government agencies and developers.
• National Register of Historic Places Nominations Preparation of NRHP nominations requiring in-depth historical research to recognize and preserve cultural heritage, with potential eligibility for grants and tax incentives. Sold to property owners, government agencies, and private clients such as Speedway Motorsports.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 archaeological and historical studies completed since 1993
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, supporting and core.

• U.S. Forest Service — Nantahala National ForestnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Southern Research conducted archaeological surveys of over 1,000 acres in Macon County, NC across two projects (2020), investigating 51 sites. This mountainous area is the ancestral homeland of Cherokee prior to forced removal in 1838.
• Bruce Harvey (Photographer and Historian)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022In 2022, Southern Research worked in conjunction with photographer and historian Bruce Harvey to conduct HABS (Historic American Buildings Survey) large-format photography on three historic buildings at Fort Benning/Fort Moore. Bruce Harvey provided photographic expertise as part of the joint documentation effort.
• Speedway Motorsports, LLCnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In 2021, Southern Research was contracted by Speedway Motorsports, LLC to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in western North Carolina. This engagement represents a strategic partnership with a major motorsports entertainment company for preservation consulting.
• Harris County, GeorgianotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Through a cooperative agreement with Harris County, Southern Research created a series of educational and interpretive panels along the historic Man O'War Railroad trail in downtown Pine Mountain, Georgia. Southern Research designed and installed the panels as part of a public education and heritage tourism initiative.
• U.S. Forest Service — Bankhead National ForestnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In 2021, Southern Research systematically surveyed 972 acres in Winston County, AL (40 sites, 28 unrecorded). In 2023, surveyed 1,704 acres in Lawrence County, AL (86 sites, 77 unrecorded), including a CCC fire tower and family cemeteries.
• Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia / Historic Museums at Georgia CollegenotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Southern Research completed four field seasons (June 2019, November 2020, March 2021, October 2021) of archaeological survey at Andalusia Farm (Flannery O'Connor's home), owned by the Board of Regents and managed by the Historic Museums at Georgia College and State University. Work satisfied Georgia Environmental Policy Act requirements.
• Flournoy and Calhoun RealtorsnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018In 2018, Southern Research was contracted by Flournoy and Calhoun Realtors to survey a 92-acre tract in northern Columbus, Georgia (former Swift Denim Mill site) as part of industrial redevelopment due diligence.
• Development Authority of the City of Milledgeville and Baldwin CountynotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Beginning in 2016, Southern Research entered a multi-year relationship with the Development Authority of the City of Milledgeville and Baldwin County to survey a 1,587-acre tract for Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certification. Forty archaeological sites were identified; Phase II testing was conducted on seven sites, and data recovery was performed on two sites.
• Georgia Power CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Between 2015 and 2021, Southern Research worked in cooperation with Georgia Power Company on multiple investigations along the Chattahoochee River related to FERC license surrender for the Langdale and Riverview hydroelectric facilities. This long-term engagement involved comprehensive archaeological and historical investigations for dam decommissioning compliance.
• U.S. Forest Service — Chattahoochee-Oconee National ForestscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Since 2015, Southern Research has surveyed over 12,000 acres across multiple districts of Georgia's National Forests and assisted with leading public outreach through the Passports in Time (PIT) program (2015–2019).
• Chambers County Sheriff's Department Dive Team (LaFayette, Alabama)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2012Prior to the breaching of the Eagle and Phenix Mill dam (March 20, 2012) and City Mills dam (March 11, 2013), Southern Research consulted with a team of divers from the Chambers County Sheriff's Department Dive Team to investigate what lay behind the historic stone dams on the Chattahoochee River.
• SEARCH, Inc. (Maritime Archaeologists)supportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2012Southern Research worked with maritime archaeologists at SEARCH, Inc. to complete side scan sonar surveys of the historic mill dam sites on the Chattahoochee River prior to the dam breach investigations.
• Landair Surveying Company (Roswell, Georgia)supportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2012Southern Research worked with Landair Surveying Company of Roswell, Georgia for a complete digital scan of the historic mill dam sites on the Chattahoochee River.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SEARCH, Inc. National CRM and maritime archaeology firm with whom Southern Research has partnered on Chattahoochee River dam surveys. Competes in the same federal Section 106 / NEPA / FERC compliance niche and offers similar Phase I-III capabilities.
• Brockington and Associates: Southeastern US cultural resource management firm providing archaeological surveys, historic architecture surveys, and public interpretation services. Closely matched service portfolio and regional footprint.
• New South Associates: Georgia-based cultural resource management firm providing archaeological and historical resource surveys across the Southeast. Directly comparable in size, geography, and service mix (Phase I/II/III, NRHP nominations, HABS documentation) to Southern Research.
• Commonwealth Heritage Group: Mid-sized cultural and environmental heritage consulting firm offering Phase I/II/III archaeological surveys, historic architecture, and Section 106 compliance. Comparable service mix and target clients.
• R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates: Historic preservation and architectural history consulting firm with deep federal contracting experience (Section 106, NEPA). Competes for cultural resources work tied to federal infrastructure and development projects.
• Gray & Pape, Inc. National CRM firm specializing in archaeology, architectural history, and historic preservation planning. Competes for many of the same federal, state, and private developer contracts that anchor Southern Research's pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global environmental and engineering consultancy with a sizable cultural resources practice. Competes for large federal and utility infrastructure contracts but is not specialized in the southeastern industrial archaeology niche.
• Tetra Tech: Large environmental consulting firm offering cultural resource management as part of broader NEPA / Section 106 / environmental compliance services. Overlaps with Southern Research on federal and utility infrastructure work.
• TRC Companies: Environmental consulting firm with cultural resources capabilities supporting utility, transportation, and federal infrastructure clients. Broad incumbent competing on price and scale for IDIQ-style procurements.
• Stantec: Global design and engineering firm with cultural and environmental heritage services through its acquisition of Cardno. Competes in the same federal infrastructure and FERC-licensing projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-research-historic-preservation-consultants-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants