About Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
Trusted Expertise in Cultural Resources
ACI has successfully helped clients navigate local, state, and federal regulations for 50 years. Over the course of our history, we have developed long-standing relationships with the Florida Division of Historical Resources (FDHR), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and various county and local municipalities. ACI is experienced with survey, case study reports, 4(f) reports, and Memoranda of Agreement (MOA). We have worked in all of Florida’s 67 counties and with all seven FDOT Districts.
Florida's First Choice for Full Service Cultural Resource Management
ACI's Development Over Decades
Founded by Marion Almy in 1976, and joined by Joan Deming in 1978, ACI began by supporting local development projects before expanding across Florida. In the 1990s, ACI took off after being awarded cultural resource assessment survey contracts (CRAS) by NASA and FDOT. Today, we are the “first choice” of national and international engineering firms, developers, federal, state, and local agencies, as well as a “go-to resource” for tribal collaboration.
As the oldest full-service cultural resource management firm in the state, ACI has helped shape FDHR and FDOT industry standards and guidelines while providing expertise in archaeology, architectural history, historic resources, and regulatory compliance. Our diverse team brings together decades of experience, specialized knowledge, and a commitment to guiding clients in successfully navigating requirements pertaining to complex cultural resources. In recognition of their extensive knowledge and years in the field, many members of ACI’s staff have been nominated or elected to serve as board members and officers for national organizations, including the American Cultural Resource Association (ACRA), National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), and Society of Professional Archaeologists (SOPA/RPA), along with numerous state organizations, and locally on historic preservation boards and in planning and development groups.
In 2018, ACI welcomed the next generation of leadership when Dr. Maranda Almy Kles — Marion’s daughter — joined the firm as its Vice President, Principal and head of the Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology unit. With a degree in Anthropology, focusing on Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology, and her experience with other cultural resource management firms, museums, and the National Park Service, she continues the legacy that has proudly defined ACI for five decades.
Our Mission
ACI’s mission is to promote an appreciation for cultural resources through our focus on our clients’ needs. ACI seeks to develop responsible solutions that balance development and preservation and gain strong support from all interested parties. While steeped in a history of standard methods and regulatory requirements, ACI seeks to incorporate new technologies that improve data collection, interpretation, and presentation in an effort to achieve client objectives, meet regulatory requirements, and protect valuable cultural resources.
Our Core Values
• Integrity
• Innovation
• Passion
• Collaboration
• Inclusion
• Resource Protection
• Sustainability
• Reliability
• Responsiveness
• Confidentiality
• Planning for Future Development With a Respect for the Past
Our Code of Ethics
ACI is committed to abiding by proper and legal business practices. We seek to exemplify the highest standards of professional conduct to protect the public’s interest in cultural resources, while providing diligent, creative, honest, and competent services and professional advice to our clients. ACI employees take personal responsibility for achieving our mission and honoring our commitments, through open and honest communication, encouraging and maintaining a safe work environment for all, and a commitment to professional morality, responsibility, and competence. ACI seeks to design and conduct projects that will add to our understanding of past peoples and places and contribute to the development of Cultural Resource Management by improving methods, techniques, interpretations, and applications.
ACI adheres to the professional ethics set forth by the American Cultural Resource Association and the Register of Professional Archaeologists. ACI follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines in Archeology and Historic Preservation.