Arkeologerna

What Arkeologerna does

Arkeologerna is the archaeological consulting unit of the Swedish government agency Statens historiska museer (National Historical Museums), operating across five regional offices (Stockholm, Uppsala, Linköping, Lund, Mölndal) with over 100 specialist employees. The firm traces its institutional history to the archaeological contract operations of Riksantikvarieämbetet from the 1950s and was reorganised under its current name on 1 January 2015. Its core service is commissioned archaeological investigation — from early planning assessments and prospection to full excavation and publication — supplemented by specialist laboratories in osteology, dendrochronology (vedartsanalys), archaeobotany, mining and industrial archaeology, building archaeology, church archaeology, garden archaeology, and battlefield archaeology. Non-invasive prospection uses metal detectors, magnetometers, and georadar; digital deliverables include GIS, photography, and 3D reconstruction built in game engines and hosted on Sketchfab.

The business model is professional services: revenue is generated through commissioned project contracts with public and private clients, with no published pricing. The primary customer segments are government agencies (notably Trafikverket on Ostlänken and Västlänken), Swedish municipalities, private developers, and private individuals. Larger engagements are multi-year, structured as field seasons followed by indoor analysis and reporting, and the firm participates in hundreds of projects annually. The firm also engages in international research and development projects, distributes publications and educational materials, and operates public outreach through exhibitions (e.g. at Historiska museet) and a regional blog network spanning more than 60 themed blogs. Marketing channels are predominantly organic: social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn), YouTube, SoundCloud, Sketchfab, and a Cision-hosted newsroom; there is no retail, e-commerce, or app distribution. Arkeologerna is not privately owned, does not raise venture or private equity funding, and has no subsidiaries or M&A history.

Name

Arkeologerna

Legal name

Arkeologerna

Website

https://arkeologerna.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arkeologerna is the archaeological consulting unit of Sweden's National Historical Museums, providing commissioned excavation, prospection, and specialist analysis to government agencies, municipalities, and private clients across Sweden.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Archaeological Consulting Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

Keywords

• Archaeological consulting
• Cultural heritage management
• Archaeological investigations
• Archaeological prospection
• Specialist archaeological analyses

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Archaeological Consulting Services: Commissioned archaeological investigations, from early planning assessments and preliminary investigations to complete excavations and specialist assignments. Revenue comes from government agencies, municipalities, private companies, and private individuals contracting their services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Arkeologerna provides commissioned archaeological consulting services across Sweden, including preliminary investigations, full-scale excavations, specialist laboratory analyses (osteology, dendrochronology, archaeobotany), non-invasive prospection (georadar, magnetometers, metal detectors), and thematic specializations such as church, garden, building, mining, and battlefield archaeology. The firm serves government agencies, municipalities, private companies, and private individuals, and operates as an integrated unit of the Swedish government agency Statens historiska museer (National Historical Museums).

Product overview

Arkeologerna is Sweden's leading archaeological consulting company, providing comprehensive archaeological services as part of Statens historiska museer (National Historical Museums). The company operates as a unified service offering with a broad portfolio of interconnected services centered on archaeological investigation and cultural heritage management. Core offerings include archaeological excavations and surveys, supplemented by specialist analyses (vedartsanalys, osteology, archaeobotany), non-invasive archaeological prospection (georadar, metal detectors), and thematic specializations such as church archaeology, garden archaeology, building archaeology, mining archaeology, and battlefield archaeology. Additional services encompass public engagement activities, IT solutions for cultural heritage, and research and development. The company also produces publications including scientific reports, magazines, and popular science materials documenting their findings. With offices across Sweden, they serve government agencies, municipalities, private companies, and individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Archaeological Investigation (Arkeologisk undersökning) Professional archaeological excavations and surveys for construction projects, research purposes, and cultural heritage assessments. Covers prehistoric settlements, burial sites, medieval remains, and industrial heritage sites.
• Specialist Analyses (Specialistanalyser) Scientific laboratory analyses including wood species identification (vedartsanalys), osteology (bone analysis), archaeobotany, historical map analysis, and other laboratory services supporting archaeological interpretation.
• Archaeological Prospection (Arkeologisk prospektering) Non-invasive ground investigation using metal detectors, magnetometers, and georadar to discover what lies beneath the surface without excavation.
• Mining and Industrial Archaeology (Gruv- och industriarkeologi) Interdisciplinary studies of historical mining and industrial environments, providing knowledge about older processes and the lives of people who worked in mines, including metal production and industrial heritage.
• Church Archaeology (Kyrkoarkeologi) Specialized investigation of churches, churchyards, and ecclesiastical sites, including medieval churches and religious structures.
• Building Archaeology (Byggnadsarkeologi) Investigation of historical buildings and structures, including castles, fortifications, and other architectural heritage.
• Garden Archaeology (Trädgårdsarkeologi) Investigation of historical gardens and parks, including medieval gardens and 19th-century estate gardens.
• Battlefield Archaeology (Slagfältsarkeologi) Investigation of historical battlefields and military sites.
• IT for Cultural Heritage (IT för kulturmiljö) IT solutions for cultural heritage management, including GIS, photography, 3D documentation, and digital visualization tools.
• Research and Development (Forskning och utveckling) Research initiatives aimed at promoting knowledge and interest in Swedish history, with broad research competence across various archaeological periods.
• Public Engagement (Publik verksamhet) School visits, exhibitions, and guided tours, including educational materials and teaching resources about Swedish historical sites for primary schools.
• Publications (Publikationer) Scientific books, magazines, research reports, and popular science publications documenting archaeological findings and research, including excavation reports and regional magazines.
• Wood Species Analysis (Vedartsanalys) Identification of wood species from charcoal or burned wood using microscopic analysis of wood structure, supporting radiocarbon dating and archaeological interpretation.

Named customers5 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

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Statens historiska museer (National Historical Museums)coreOthers · 1 January 2015Arkeologerna is an integrated part of Statens historiska museer (SHM), a Swedish government agency. Previously part of Riksantikvarieämbetets (National Heritage Board) archaeological contract operations since the 1950s, the operations were transferred to Statens historiska museer on January 1, 2015 and renamed Arkeologerna.
• TrafikverketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor client and strategic partner for infrastructure projects including Ostlänken (new railway between Järna and Linköping) and Västlänken (new railway tunnel in Gothenburg). Trafikverket contracts Arkeologerna for archaeological investigations required before major infrastructure construction.
• Östergötlands museumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cultural heritage projects including investigations of Villa Stenkullen park and garden. Joint publication of 'Arkeologi i Östergötland' magazine.
• Lomma kommunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality contracting Arkeologerna for archaeological investigations related to station area development in Flädie.
• Historiska museetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on exhibitions at Historiska museet in Stockholm. Arkeologerna provides archaeological findings and expertise for public exhibitions such as 'Vikingatidens hästar' mini-exhibition.
• Statens historiska museer (Statens historiska museer)coreOthersParent government agency providing institutional framework, scientific laboratories, conservation facilities, and research support for Arkeologerna's operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Stiftelsen Kulturmiljö (Swedish Foundation for Cultural Environment): Swedish non-profit cultural heritage operator providing heritage management and consulting across the country. Adjacent Swedish peer with overlapping cultural heritage mandate and public-sector funding profile.

Broad incumbents

• WSP Global: Global professional services firm with Nordic heritage and environmental teams. Competes on infrastructure-related cultural heritage and environmental assessment scopes adjacent to archaeological investigations.
• Sweco AB: Large Swedish-headquartered engineering, design, and consulting firm with cultural heritage and environmental assessment capabilities. Competes for broader project scopes where archaeology is one component, and serves the same Swedish infrastructure clients.
• COWI A/S: Danish-headquartered engineering consultancy with strong Nordic infrastructure heritage and cultural environment capabilities. Overlaps on Trafikverket-style commissions across Scandinavia and competes for heritage and geotechnical scope.
• Ramboll Group: Global engineering and consulting firm with Nordic roots and a heritage/environment practice. Competes in environmental impact assessment and heritage advisory work tied to major Nordic infrastructure programs.

Direct peers

• Wessex Archaeology: Largest archaeological and heritage consultancy in the UK, providing commissioned excavations, specialist analyses, and heritage advice to infrastructure and development clients. Direct analog to Arkeologerna in business model, statutory work, and specialist scientific services.
• MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology): UK archaeological and heritage consultancy spun out of a major museum, delivering fieldwork, post-excavation analysis, geoarchaeology, and public engagement. Highly comparable given Arkeologerna's similar institutional museum affiliation and full-service model.
• Headland Archaeology: Commercial archaeological consultancy operating across the UK and Ireland, providing pre-planning evaluation, excavation, and specialist services. Direct peer in the commissioned commercial archaeology space with overlapping infrastructure client base.

Others

• Riksantikvarieämbetet (Swedish National Heritage Board): Former parent organization of Arkeologerna's predecessor unit (UV) and current Swedish national heritage regulator. Compares as a related cultural heritage public-sector body overseeing the regulatory environment in which Arkeologerna operates.

Emerging players

• Norsk institutt for kulturminneforskning (NIKU): Norwegian cultural heritage research institute delivering commissioned investigations, assessments, and R&D. Nordic peer with similar public-affiliated model and comparable client base of infrastructure developers and cultural heritage authorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Arkeologerna1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/arkeologiuvfilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/Arkeologerna
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arkeologerna
• Instagraminstagram.com/arkeologerna

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 Arkeologerna