The Archaeological Research Institute

What The Archaeological Research Institute does

The Archaeological Research Institute (ARI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and headquartered in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. ARI operates the Guard Archaeological Preserve, a pre-contact Fort Ancient village site inhabited between AD 1000 and 1250 featuring 33 identified structures and artifacts from trade networks spanning Central Ohio to Wisconsin. The organization delivers hands-on public archaeology experiences combining outdoor fieldwork (surveys, scouting, excavation), laboratory analysis (artifact washing, sorting, cataloguing, photography), and experimental archaeology (atlatl throwing, archery, flint knapping, pottery making, copperworking, basket weaving) for adults and children ages 5 and up. Technology infrastructure includes proprietary augmented reality tours (REXplore) using iPads to overlay reconstructed village visualizations onto the actual Guard Site, VR lab experiences, and magnetic gradiometry imaging for non-invasive subsurface mapping of archaeological features.

ARI serves a diversified customer base across families with children, K-12 public/charter/private schools and homeschool families, university students, military veterans, archaeology enthusiasts, and corporate sponsors. Distribution is regional across the Ohio River Valley (Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky) through walk-in visits to the Lawrenceburg Learning Center, online booking for scheduled experiences, direct outreach to school districts, and formal academic partnerships with Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Ivy Tech Community College, Northern Kentucky University, and Indiana University East. Supporting assets include the quarterly Field Notes newsletter, the Midwestern Archaeology Podcast hosted by public educator Lee Strange, and the ARI Outfitters retail shop.

Revenue is generated through five streams: annual memberships ($10-$100 across multiple tiers), one-time experience fees ($5-$30 for field/lab/experimental sessions, $100-$200 for camps, $750-$1,000 for field school), retail merchandise sales through ARI Outfitters, charitable donations and grants, and tiered corporate sponsorships. A $5 million capital campaign is currently underway to fund Basecamp 2.0, a new facility intended to expand programming capacity. Need-based membership pricing accepting SNAP/Medicaid/WIC and field trip financial assistance indicate a mission-driven pricing structure prioritizing access alongside revenue generation.

Name

The Archaeological Research Institute

Legal name

The Archaeological Research Institute

Website

https://exploreari.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Archaeological Research Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Guard Archaeological Preserve in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. It offers public archaeology experiences, field school, camps, AR tours, and educational programs to families, schools, students, and veterans in the Ohio River Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrenceburg, IN

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual membership program offering multiple tiers from $10-$100 with benefits including unlimited admission, event discounts, Field Notes magazine, and member-only access. Provides recurring revenue stream.
2. Experiences and Programs: One-time fees for field experiences ($30/adult, $15/lab, $10/child), camps ($100-$200), speaker series ($5/person), field trips ($5/student), and field school ($750-$1000).
3. Retail Sales (ARI Outfitters): Online and in-store merchandise including books, jewelry, apparel, and ARI-branded products. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9AM-5PM.
4. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals, sponsorships from businesses, endowment funds, planned giving programs, and workplace giving matching programs. Active $5 million capital campaign for Basecamp 2.0.
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Event and program sponsorship opportunities for community businesses, with tiered recognition benefits and trail sponsorship starting at $500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Archaeological Research Institute (ARI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on public archaeology experiences at the Guard Archaeological Preserve in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Its core offerings include adult and youth field, lab, and experimental archaeology experiences, summer camps, K-12 field trips, a public archaeology field school, internship programs, and a year-round membership program. Supporting offerings include the REXplore Augmented Reality tour, the Great Miami Heritage Tour, guided site tours, a veteran transition program (VALOR), and a retail gift shop (ARI Outfitters).

Product overview

The Archaeological Research Institute (ARI) offers a diverse portfolio of public archaeology programs and educational experiences centered around its Guard Archaeological Preserve in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The core offerings include hands-on field experiences, laboratory analysis sessions, and experimental archaeology activities for both adults (ages 12+) and children (ages 5-18). The product line encompasses individual and group experiences, structured camps for multiple age groups, school field trips, and professional development through internships and a field school. Augmented reality is incorporated through the REXplore: Fort Ancient AR Tour using iPads, complementing the Great Miami Heritage Tour and River of Time Trails. Supporting offerings include membership tiers, the VALOR veterans program, Midwestern Archaeology Podcast, ARI Field Notes newsletter, ARI Outfitters retail shop, experimental gardens, and university/school partnerships. The institute also provides educational resources, classroom talks, and a speaker request service for external audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Field Experiences Hands-on outdoor archaeological experiences where participants ages 12+ engage in surveys, scouting, and excavations at ARI dig sites, learning to dig, discover, and analyze artifacts while contributing to ongoing research and preservation.
• Adult Lab Experiences Indoor laboratory experiences where participants learn to wash, sort, measure, and catalog archaeological finds, photograph and analyze artifacts, and construct comparative collections that support ARI's research efforts.
• Adult Experimental Experiences Immersive experimental archaeology sessions where adults aged 12+ engage in hands-on activities including atlatl throwing, archery, flint knapping, pottery making, copperworking, and elm bark basket weaving to understand ancient technologies.
• Kids Field Experiences Outdoor archaeological experiences for children ages 5-11 offering hands-on excavation and exploration at the Smith Site, studying the Smith family who ran a farm in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
• ARI Kids Lab Experiences Indoor lab experiences for children under 12 that introduce young participants to archaeology through interactive activities where they analyze artifacts and contribute to archaeological preservation efforts.
• ARI Kids Experimental Archaeology Hands-on experimental archaeology experiences for youth ages 5-11 featuring atlatl throwing, flint knapping, gardening, pottery making, and cordage creation using reconstructed artifacts.
• REXplore: Fort Ancient Augmented Reality Tour Augmented reality tour led by Rex the Barkeologist that uses an iPad to overlay historical visualizations of an 800-year-old Fort Ancient village onto the Guard Archaeological Preserve landscape, showing reconstructed homes, ceremonies, and daily routines.
• Great Miami Heritage Tour Guided tour through Lawrenceburg's history led by an ARI Interpreter, covering the Guard Archaeological Preserve, Oberting Earthworks, Shawnee Lookout, and local cemeteries with morning and afternoon session options.
• Exploring History Camp (Ages 5-8) Half-day summer camp for children ages 5-8 featuring hands-on archaeological excavation, experiments with atlatl use and pottery making, native plant exploration, and a culminating showcase for families.
• Exploring History Camp (Ages 9-12) Four-day archaeology camp for students ages 9-12 based at ARI's Base Camp in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, offering daily thematic focuses on different archaeological aspects with professional archaeologists in field and laboratory settings.
• Teen Archaeology Immersion Camp (Ages 13-18) Immersive four-day teen archaeology camp offering hands-on learning activities, field expeditions, and STEM-integrated experiences including native plant identification, pottery making, and atlatl usage alongside professional archaeologists.
• K-12 Field Trips Standards-driven field trips for K-12 students aligned with curriculum objectives, featuring outdoor field archaeology with guided excavations and experimental activities, or indoor lab archaeology with artifact handling and preservation work.
• Speaker Series Educational talk series featuring engaging presentations on archaeology topics by ARI's team of archaeologists and guest speakers, offering discussions for adults and young enthusiasts throughout the year.
• Internships and CO-OP Program Dynamic in-person internship and CO-OP opportunities across departments including archaeology (fieldwork, lab analysis, GIS, research), land stewardship, historic preservation, educational programming, operations, and fundraising with both paid and unpaid positions available.
• ARI Public Archaeology Field School Field school introducing students to archaeological field methodologies including survey, excavation, lab methods, public outreach, and land stewardship, offered as full-time five-week sessions and part-time options with enrollment limited to 12 persons per session.
• ARI Membership Program Annual membership tiers including Junior Explorer ($25), Apprentice Archeologist ($35), College Researcher ($40), ARI for All Family ($10 need-based), Educator Advocate ($60), Community Member ($50-$70), and Adult Enthusiast ($80-$100), offering experience passes, event access, and store discounts.
• VALOR Program (Veterans) Veteran Archaeological Learning Opportunities & Research Program providing veterans with archaeological field and laboratory training, skills translation from military service to archaeology careers, and community connection during civilian transition.
• ARI Outfitters Retail Shop Retail gift shop offering books, jewelry, ARI merchandise, educational items, and memorabilia available both online and at the Learning Center.
• River of Time Certified Sustainable Trails Certified sustainable trails at the Guard Archaeological Preserve, certified by the Indiana Wildlife Federation at Gold Level, featuring interpretive signage and augmented reality integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 visitors walked trails in past 3 years with visitor numbers doubling each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ivy Tech Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing internship and co-op opportunities for students. ARI serves as learning site for Ivy Tech students pursuing archaeology, history, land stewardship, and non-profit career paths.
• Ohio State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership. Ohio State University conducted research at the Guard Site starting in 2012, investigating houses, structures, and community layout.
• University of CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for public archaeology field school. University of Cincinnati students can enroll in field school for $750 with dedicated session July 7-August 7. Course credit available through university agreements.
• Northern Kentucky UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing internship and co-op opportunities for students interested in archaeology, history, and related fields.
• Indiana University EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership. IU East faculty member Aaron Comstock collaborates on copper working research and land stewardship projects.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for trail development and conservation. NRCS branch of USDA works with ARI on high-quality conservation practices for Guard Archaeological Preserve and River of Time Trails.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerARI is a member of the Kroger Community Rewards Program, allowing Kroger shoppers to designate ARI as their charitable organization for community rewards.
• Southeast Indiana Community GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Native Cultivars Garden project. Grant from United Way enabled construction of raised garden beds in 2021.
• Carriage House FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Mt. Nebo (33HA152) archaeological project in Mt. Nebo, Ohio. Farm wants to understand and preserve remnant archaeology while expanding operations.
• Community Partners and SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLevel One sponsors including PHS, Home City Ice, OXBOW, Carriage House Farms, Whispering Beard, Mills Creek Alliance, Green Umbrella, Wildlife Federation, Indiana Humanities, Kiwanis, ESRI, USDA, United Way, SAA, and local organizations supporting ARI's mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Angel Mounds State Historic Site: Indiana archaeological state historic site preserving a Mississippian-era Native American town. Most direct archaeological peer, sharing Fort Ancient/Mississippian cultural context and public archaeology mission.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums: Massachusetts living-history museum combining archaeological site, reenactments, and educational programming. Comparable model of immersive public archaeology/heritage experiences for schools and families.
• Archaeology Southwest: Non-profit dedicated to archaeological site preservation and public education in the American Southwest. Comparable non-profit heritage preservation mission with research and outreach components.
• Fort Ancient State Memorial (Ohio History Connection): Ohio state-managed Fort Ancient hilltop enclosure site, same Native American culture as ARI's Guard Site. Direct cultural and interpretive peer operating in the same regional heritage ecosystem.
• Crow Canyon Archaeological Center: Colorado-based non-profit offering public archaeology field schools, educational programs, and school field trips on ancestral Puebloan sites. Closest peer in non-profit public archaeology education model.
• Conner Prairie: Indiana-based interactive history museum offering hands-on historical experiences, with similar family/educator audiences and immersive programming model. Direct regional peer in experiential heritage education.
• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site: UNESCO-designated Mississippian mound complex in Illinois with public archaeology programming, museum, and trails. Comparable as a large-scale archaeological site operator focused on public education.
• Meadowcroft Rockshelter (Heinz History Center): Pennsylvania archaeological site with public interpretation and educational programming managed by a regional history organization. Comparable archaeological site operator serving families and schools.
• Center for American Archeology: Illinois-based non-profit offering public archaeology field schools, lab experiences, and K-12 programming. Near-twin in mission and operational structure to ARI.

Broad incumbents

• Old World Wisconsin: Large-scale outdoor living-history museum operated by Wisconsin Historical Society. Comparable in immersive heritage experiences but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Explore_ARI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ExploreARI
• Facebookfacebook.com/thearchaeologicalresearchinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-archaeological-research-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/theari_inc
• Pinterestpinterest.com/pin/423056958753604845

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Archaeological Research Institute