JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Scope & Guideline

Advancing Understanding of Past Societies

Introduction

Welcome to the JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ARCHAEOLOGY information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ARCHAEOLOGY, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1469-6053
PublisherSAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2001 to 2024
AbbreviationJ SOC ARCHAEOL / J. Soc. Archaeol.
Frequency3 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of Social Archaeology primarily focuses on the intersection of archaeology and social science, emphasizing the role of cultural heritage in contemporary society and its implications for identity, politics, and community engagement. The journal aims to broaden archaeological discourse by integrating diverse methodologies and perspectives, particularly those that challenge traditional narratives.
  1. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    The journal embraces interdisciplinary research, integrating methodologies from anthropology, sociology, geography, and history to enrich archaeological interpretations and understandings.
  2. Decolonization and Indigenous Perspectives:
    A significant focus on decolonizing archaeology, the journal highlights Indigenous methodologies and perspectives, advocating for the inclusion of marginalized voices in archaeological narratives.
  3. Heritage and Identity:
    Exploration of the role of heritage in shaping identities, particularly in postcolonial contexts, addressing how archaeological heritage influences contemporary cultural and national identities.
  4. Community Engagement and Grassroots Initiatives:
    Emphasis on community archaeology and grassroots heritage movements, examining how local communities engage with and reinterpret their cultural heritage.
  5. Environmental and Political Contexts:
    Research that situates archaeological findings within broader environmental and political contexts, exploring how heritage interacts with issues such as climate change, conflict, and colonial histories.
Recent publications in the Journal of Social Archaeology indicate a shift towards several emerging themes that reflect current socio-political concerns and novel approaches in archaeological research. These trends offer insights into the evolving landscape of the discipline.
  1. Decolonization of Archaeology:
    There is a strong trend towards decolonizing archaeological practices, with a focus on integrating Indigenous knowledge systems and challenging colonial legacies within archaeological narratives.
  2. Post-Conflict Heritage Management:
    Emerging themes around post-conflict heritage management are gaining traction, particularly in regions recovering from war, highlighting the role of archaeology in healing and community rebuilding.
  3. Cultural Heritage and Climate Change:
    Increasing attention is being directed towards the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage, with researchers exploring how archaeological practices can address and mitigate these challenges.
  4. Youth Engagement in Heritage:
    A rising theme involves the active engagement of youth in heritage preservation efforts, emphasizing their role in safeguarding cultural heritage and fostering community involvement.
  5. Interdisciplinary Environmental Archaeology:
    There is a growing interest in the intersection of archaeology with environmental studies, focusing on how past human-environment interactions inform current ecological issues.

Declining or Waning

While the Journal of Social Archaeology has seen significant growth in various areas, some themes have begun to decline in prominence. These waning scopes indicate a potential shift in research focus or evolving priorities within the archaeological community.
  1. Traditional Archaeological Methods:
    There has been a noticeable decline in publications relying solely on traditional archaeological methods, such as excavation reports, as the journal increasingly favors interdisciplinary and social approaches.
  2. Eurocentric Perspectives:
    Research that predominantly reflects Eurocentric archaeological narratives is becoming less common, as there is a greater emphasis on non-Western perspectives and local narratives.
  3. Material Culture Focus:
    While material culture studies remain relevant, there seems to be a reduction in papers that solely focus on artifact analysis without contextualizing them within social frameworks or contemporary relevance.
  4. Static Heritage Interpretations:
    Papers that present static or unchanging views of heritage, without considering its dynamic nature and ongoing transformations, are less frequently published, reflecting a shift towards more fluid understandings of heritage.
  5. Historical Archaeology in Isolation:
    Themes centered on historical archaeology as a standalone discipline are waning, as the journal increasingly integrates historical contexts with contemporary issues and interdisciplinary approaches.

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