Focus and Scope

PIA invites contributions covering all aspects of original archaeological research worldwide. PIA only publishes original research that makes a new contribution to the field of study. All contributions to PIA undergo an editorial process within the PIA committee. Contributions are accepted in English only. If written by non-native speakers, they will be edited for language by the PIA committee, subject to proofing.

The Research papers present original contributions to a wide range of research areas. The authors are usually novel and outstanding scholars that approach traditional topics in innovative ways. Recent PIA volumes included various papers covering a range of topics including Egyptology, archaeometallurgy, bioarchaeology, cultural heritage and public archaeology.

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The Forum provides an arena to stimulate debate or deeper reflection on key issues of our discipline. The contributors are normally established professionals who review crucial aspects of archaeological theory, practice and ethics, often presenting opposing views on controversial matters. Recent Forum pieces have discussed the value and purpose of the British schools abroad (PIA 16, with contributions by Bill Finlayson, Sarah Finke, Michael Fulford, Paul Lane and Roger Matthews) and the role of TV programmes in publicising archaeology (PIA 11, with an incisive paper by James P. Mower and a reply by Mick Aston, the main archaeologist behind Time Team).

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In the Interview, readers may find personal views, past experiences and previously unpublished thoughts of some of the most distinguished figures in archaeology-related fields. In PIA 12, Lord Colin Renfrew looked at the past, present and future of archaeology. Robert Anderson, then Director of the British Museum, was interviewed shortly before the Great Court was inaugurated (PIA 11). Ruth Whitehouse told us her life-history as an archaeologist on her appointment as the first female professor at the Institute of Archaeology (PIA 13). Other more recent interviewees have been Peter Ucko and Qin Ling, both members of the International Centre for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology (PIA 16), the head of the CBA, Mike Heyworth(15) and Don Brothwell, Emeritus Professor at the University of York (PIA 14).

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The Short reports section enables the objectives, methods and preliminary findings of on-going research projects to be disseminated and also provides a platform for other work such as public archaeology and educational outreach initiatives. The wide scope of areas and periods covered reflects the breadth of interests developed at the Institute of Archaeology. Recent reports have presented work on such varied arenas as the prehistory of the Canary Islands, the use of GIS in archaeology, excavations in Papua New Guinea, West African rock art and the current perceptions of cultural heritage in Mali.

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The Conference, Exhibition and Book reviews address recent events and publications from a critical perspective. The focus here is what is being done in archaeology, and how this work is being carried out. Thus the Reviews provide another medium for the discussion of modern trends in archaeology and museology. Recent conference reviews include diverse Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) sessions, various symposia on Egyptian archaeology, and congresses on human remains, colours in antiquity, Neolithic studies, archaeology of folklore and Mediterranean archaeology. Exhibition reviews so far have included: Agatha Christie and Archaeology, BodyWorlds, AZTECS and Sutton Hoo. Book reviews are numerous and very wide ranging.

Section Policies

Articles

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Editorial

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Forum

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Interview

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Research Papers

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Short Reports

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Exhibition Reviews

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Conference Reviews

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Book Reviews

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Peer Review Process

All papers submitted to PIA are refereed by established professionals, and they are only published once the editorial board and the referees are convinced of their suitability.

Papers are refereed by two anonymous academics/experts specialising in the subject matter discussed. Contributors will be sent a version of their contribution with suggestions for changes. It is expected that a revised paper that takes into account the referees’ comments will be returned by authors to the PIA committee within as short a time as possible. Research papers are accepted for publication subject to the referees’ comments and at the discretion of the PIA committee; all other contributions are subject solely to the latter.

Contributors should expect a decision on acceptance within two weeks of resubmission. Contributors will be sent print proofs of their contribution prior to publication and are expected to return corrected versions to the PIA committee within one week of receipt. PIA cannot offer off-prints of contributions, but each author will receive a free copy of the volume in which their contribution appears.

 

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Archiving

The CLOCKSS system has permission to ingest, preserve, and serve this Archival Unit. CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS) is a not for profit joint venture between the world’s leading scholarly publishers and research libraries whose mission is to build a sustainable, geographically distributed dark archive with which to ensure the long-term survival of Web-based scholarly publications for the benefit of the greater global research community. Content no longer available from a publisher is republished with a creative commons license to ensure it remains available, forever. More...

This journal also utilizes the LOCKSS system to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration. More...