Hadès - Bureau d'investigations archéologiques

What Hadès - Bureau d'investigations archéologiques does

Hadès - Bureau d'investigations archéologiques is a French cooperative (SCOP) providing preventive archaeology and heritage services, founded in 1994 in Pau and headquartered in L'Union, Occitanie. It was the first archaeological study bureau created in France and the first private operator approved by the French state (in 2005) for preventive archaeological excavations across all major historical periods. The company employs approximately 60 permanent staff (of whom ~45 are researchers) and coordinates more than 70 collaborators across five regional agencies (L'Union/Midi, Le Bouscat/Atlantique, Saint-Saturnin/Centre, Arles/Méditerranée, and Pointe-Noire/Outre-mer in Guadeloupe), operating primarily across metropolitan France with occasional overseas assignments.

The company's service portfolio spans the full preventive archaeology value chain — from diagnostic studies and preventive excavations mandated by state prescriptions (issued by DRAC/services régionaux de l'archéologie) to specialized scientific studies in sedimentary archaeology, building archaeology (archéologie du bâti), bioarchaeology, archaeobotany, archaeozoology, geoarchaeology, and numismatics. Technical capabilities include GIS and database management, topographic and photogrammetric surveying, professional drone operations (S1/S2/S3 certified pilots), and deep well excavation (up to 23 meters). The proprietary HArpage tool supports internal archaeological data management. Since 2018, the company has operated as a SCOP, redistributing up to 84% of surpluses to employees.

Revenue is generated primarily through professional services on a project-by-project quotation basis, driven by state-prescribed preventive archaeology operations commissioned by aménageurs (developers and landowners), supplemented by heritage valorization contracts (e.g., Ville de Narbonne Palais des Archevêques), academic collaborations with universities and INRAP, and Qualiopi-certified QGIS training. Customer segments include public/private aménageurs, DRAC and regional archaeology services, municipalities, universities, and the general public (via outreach events). The company maintains ISO 9001 certification (since 2012, recertified 2025-2027) and was recognized as a private research organism by the Ministry of Research in 2019.

Name

Hadès - Bureau d'investigations archéologiques

Legal name

SCOP HADÈS SAS

Website

https://hades-archeologie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hadès is a French cooperative archaeological investigations bureau founded in 1994, providing state-prescribed preventive archaeology, heritage studies, and GIS/drone surveying services to developers, government agencies, and municipalities across France and Guadeloupe, with five regional agencies and ~60 permanent employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

L'Union

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Preventive Archaeology Operations: Hadès conducts preventive archaeology missions prescribed by the state (DRAC/services régionaux de l'archéologie) for aménageurs (developers and landowners). These are commissioned through official prescriptions and result in diagnostic studies and preventive excavations, which are core revenue-generating activities.
2. Scientific Studies, Expertise, and Valorization: Hadès conducts archaeological studies, expert assessments, and heritage valorization projects for various clients including municipalities, cultural institutions, and private developers. These services include building archaeology studies, heritage inventories, and scientific publications.
3. Training Services: Hadès provides QGIS training to students and professionals, with Qualiopi certification. Training sessions are offered both internally and externally, including sessions at client sites (e.g., L'Union, Le Bouscat).
4. External SIG Training: Hadès offers external SIG training sessions on QGIS software to external participants, generating revenue through registration fees for training courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hadès delivers state-prescribed preventive archaeological investigations — diagnostics, excavations, and heritage valorization — for aménageurs (developers, landowners) and government cultural services in France. The firm complements this with multidisciplinary scientific competencies (sedimentary archaeology, building archaeology, bioarchaeology, deep well excavation, geoarchaeology, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, numismatics) and technical services including topographic and photogrammetric surveying, professional drone operations, and GIS/database development. Qualiopi-certified QGIS training and collaborative scientific research round out the portfolio.

Product overview

Hadès is a cooperative archaeological research company offering preventive archaeology services and specialized scientific studies. The core offering is preventive archaeology (archéologie préventive), supported by specialized competencies including sedimentary archaeology, building archaeology (archéologie du bâti), bioarchaeology (archéoanthropologie), and well excavations. Technical services include GIS and database development, topographic and photogrammetric surveying, and professional drone operations. The company also provides artifact studies (mobilier, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology), geoarchaeology, heritage inventories, and scientific communication. Internal tools include HArpage for data management. Training services include QGIS certification programs. The company operates as a SCOP (cooperative) with approximately 60 permanent staff across five regional agencies in France and overseas territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preventive Archaeology (Archéologie préventive) State-prescribed archaeological diagnostic studies and preventive excavations for aménageurs (developers, landowners) and public project sponsors required to comply with French heritage law before construction or land development.
• Building Archaeology (Archéologie des élévations) Archaeological study of above-ground structures from Antiquity to the present, including standing-building surveys, historical analysis, and heritage documentation for restoration, rehabilitation, or municipal valorization projects.
• Sedimentary Archaeology (Archéologie sédimentaire) Analysis of soil layers, stratigraphy, and geological formations at archaeological sites to interpret site formation processes, chronology, and landscape evolution.
• Funerary Archaeology / Bioarchaeology (Archéoanthropologie) Osteological and funerary archaeology studies, including analysis of human skeletal remains and burial contexts recovered from archaeological sites.
• Deep Well Excavation (Fouille archéologique de puits) Specialized excavation of deep well structures using a custom-built excavation platform capable of descending and excavating shafts down to 23 meters depth, as demonstrated at Saint-Sulpice-de-Royan.
• GIS and Database Development (SIG - Bases de données) Geographic Information Systems and database engineering including georeferencing of images, integration of raster and vector files, digital terrain models, map production, project-specific databases, and webmapping applications with open or private access.
• Topography and Photogrammetry (Topographie et Photogrammétrie) Topographic surveys using total stations, pole-mounted cameras, and drones, producing orthophotographs, 3D textured models, digital terrain models (MNT), point clouds, and deliverables in multiple 3D formats (OBJ, 3DS, DXF, VRML, LAS, FBX, STL, Rhino, IGES, etc.).
• Professional Drone Surveying (Drones) DGAC-compliant aerial photography and surveying of archaeological sites and monuments using S1, S2, and S3 category pilots, producing georeferenced orthophotographs, 3D models, point clouds, and digital terrain models.
• Heritage Inventory Studies (Inventaires du patrimoine) Heritage inventory and historical research services including building surveys, historical documentation, and cartographic analysis for urban planning and preservation projects delivered to municipalities and developers.
• Artifact Studies (Études du mobilier) Specialized studies of archaeological movable property, including numismatic analysis, provided to public institutions, museums, and developers as part of excavation or research programs.
• Archaeobotanical Studies (Études archéobotaniques) Analysis of plant remains recovered from archaeological contexts to reconstruct past environments, agricultural practices, and diets at excavated sites.
• Zooarchaeological Studies (Études archéozoologiques) Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites to document past faunal assemblages, husbandry practices, and human-animal relationships.
• Geoarchaeological Studies (Études géoarchéologiques) Studies combining geological methods with archaeological investigation to interpret site formation, landscape evolution, and sedimentary contexts.
• QGIS Professional Training (Formation QGIS) Qualiopi-certified QGIS training sessions delivered to archaeology students and professionals, both internally and externally (e.g., at L'Union and Le Bouscat sites), with registration fees as the revenue mechanism.
• Scientific Communication and Heritage Valorization Heritage valorization services including public outreach, exhibitions, educational programs, conferences, and mediation of archaeological findings to municipalities, cultural institutions, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISO 9001 certification maintained since 2012
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Université de ToulousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with university laboratories. Many Hadès researchers are associated with various university laboratories across France including Toulouse, Bordeaux, Dijon, Clermont-Ferrand, Pau, Montpellier, and the Antilles.
• Université de BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with university laboratories. Hadès researchers collaborate with Bordeaux university on joint research projects and publications.
• Université de Clermont-FerrandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with university laboratories in Clermont-Ferrand, contributing to research projects and student training.
• Université de DijoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with university laboratories in Dijon for joint research initiatives.
• Université de PaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with Pau university, including thesis defense participation (e.g., Marianne Schreinemachers numismatics thesis in 2025).
• Université de MontpelliercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with Montpellier university laboratories for research projects.
• INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHadès collaborates with INRAP researchers on common research projects. INRAP is France's national preventive archaeology research institute.
• FÉMAP (Fédération des métiers de l'archéologie préventive)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHadès is an active member of FÉMAP, the federation of preventive archaeology profession. The company participates in FÉMAP forums, working groups on bioarchaeology and artifact management, and contributes to the federation's activity reports.
• Université des AntillescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with university laboratories in the French Antilles, particularly related to Caribbean archaeology and heritage studies.
• SOCOTECminorOthersSOCOTEC provides ISO 9001 certification services for Hadès's quality management system (2025-2027 certificate available).
• RCPPM (Association de Recherche sur les Charpentes et Plafonds Peints Médiévaux)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on a web documentary series about medieval painted ceilings, including the first episode on the painted ceiling of the Palais des Archevêaues de Narbonne (circa 1210), in partnership with the Occitanie Region's heritage service.
• FAR - Fonds Audiovisuel de RechercheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Bongraine project (Aytré) for collecting audiovisual documentation of the former railway depot's activities from 1921 to 1979, involving photographs, postcards, notebooks, and articles.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: International engineering, environmental, and cultural resources consultancy with dedicated archaeology and heritage services for infrastructure clients. Comparable in servicing large developer and infrastructure tenders, with cultural resources as a non-core practice within a global portfolio.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure and environmental services firm with a cultural heritage and archaeology practice supporting major linear and urban development projects. Comparable as a competitor on large aménageur-driven commissions, though archaeology is a small line within a much broader portfolio.

Regional players

• MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology): UK-based archaeological investigations and heritage consultancy delivering field evaluation, excavation, and post-excavation services. Comparable in service mix and client base (developers, public authorities), but operates primarily in the United Kingdom rather than France.
• Wessex Archaeology: UK-based private archaeological and heritage service provider with a full preventive-archaeology offering (desk-based assessment, field evaluation, excavation, post-excavation). Comparable business model and service stack, with a UK rather than French geographic focus.
• Cotswold Archaeology: UK-based archaeological consultancy delivering pre-planning evaluation, excavation, building recording, and publication services to developers and public bodies. Comparable in service mix and reliance on developer-driven demand, though serving UK'aménagement markets.
• Oxford Archaeology: One of the UK's largest independent archaeology and heritage consultancies, covering field evaluation, excavation, building recording and heritage interpretation. Comparable in scale and multidisciplinary positioning, operating across the UK rather than France.

Direct peers

• Eveha: One of France's largest private preventive archaeology operators, offering an integrated chain from diagnostic to excavation across multiple French regions. Directly comparable in service portfolio, regulatory approval footprint, and aménageur client base.
• Paléotime: French/European private operator offering preventive and programmed archaeology, paleoenvironmental studies, and geoarchaeology services. Comparable on scientific positioning, especially in sedimentary and environmental archaeology, with a similar university-affiliated research model.
• Archeodunum: French private preventive archaeology firm active across metropolitan France, with multidisciplinary scientific teams comparable to Hadès. Already a partner on the Château de la Groulais programmed excavation with Hadès and Université de Nantes.
• INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives): France's national public institute for preventive archaeology, performing the same state-prescribed diagnostic and excavation missions as Hadès. Comparable because it is the principal public counterpart competing for the same DRAC-prescribed workload and serves identical aménageur clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJMm2JcybVyETjXczq1BcRg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/had%C3%A8s-bureau-d-investigations-arch%C3%A9ologiques
• Instagraminstagram.com/hadesarcheologie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hadès - Bureau d'investigations archéologiques