Independent Archaeological Consulting, LLC (IAC)

IAC is a woman-owned small business. We provide a full range of archaeological services to assist civil engineers, planners and developers meet State and Federal regulations and guidelines required to obtain permits for development or expansion. Our projects include highway improvements and bridge replacements, utility expansion projects (electric, gas, wind, sewer and wastewater), cemetery documentation and relocation, municipal improvements and streetscapes, private development, historic properties, parks, trails, and museums. The company maintains a fully-equipped archaeology lab at 801 Islington Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and has the capability to readily address project needs as they unfold.

IAC began in 1990 under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Wheeler and has operated as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) since 1998. In 2020, IAC’s ownership transferred to long-term employees Jessica Cofelice and Jacob Tumelaire. Ms. Cofelice and Mr. Tumelaire will continue to run IAC with the standards of excellence established by its original owners and guide the firm into a new era of CRM in New England. Our experience in Northern New England spans dozens of years, resulting in the accumulation of a vast store of information pertaining to the history and cultural contexts of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Frequently asked to perform literature reviews and preliminary site examinations, IAC has developed a clear understanding of the eligibility requirements for the National Register of Historic Places.

The company maintains a full-time year-round staff and provides ongoing training in new technologies, such as computer-generated drawing and GIS. IAC is a member-in-good-standing of the American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA).

Our Commitment

To our Clients:

Provide a full range of high quality archaeological services to clients in northern New England in a timely manner and at a fair and reasonable price.

To the Public:

Protect archaeological resources by providing quality services and to produce well-written, credible, and useful interpretations that deepen our understanding of the past through archaeology.

To our Employees:

Treat each employee with fairness and respect, encourage their growth and development as archaeologists and scholars, and provide them the opportunity to play a role in supporting the company’s overall missions and goals.

IAC’s Philosophy

To pass along a legacy of solid, academically-based scholarship applied to Cultural Resource Management (CRM) projects to a new generation of archaeologists so that they can continue as the vanguard in protecting our valuable archaeological resources.