About the Journal

Aims and Scope

The Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology (E-ISSN 2375-0510) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access online journal. Its purpose is to disseminate reviews, field reports, laboratory studies and post-publication discussions relevant to the archaeology and cultural heritage of East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and Australia. The journal publishes papers and supporting data that are original contributions and of value to researchers interested in the archaeology of the one or more of the countries located within the Indo-Pacific region. References to works generated in languages other than English are encouraged, including reviews of locally disseminated works, but straight translations into English of works produced in a non-English language do not qualify.

The journal is not currently registered with the Directory of Open Access Journals, because recent issues do not meet the requirement of a minimum average of five research articles per year. Accordingly, the journal also does not qualify for Scopus registration. However, papers published in the journal satisfy standard requirements for expert peer review (for example, research thesis by publication).

Published by the University of Washington in the USA, the Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology is a seamless continuation of The Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association and continues to act as the Association’s publishing outlet. The main changes are enhancements in academic transparency, such as double-blind peer review (where the identities of authors and referees are not disclosed to each other), and scope for publication of supporting data. The journal does not derive any income from advertising, publication or perusal fees, and instead relies on complimentary hosting by the University of Washington and pro bono work by the editors and editorial board. Should the University of Washington become unable to host the journal, the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association, founded in its present form in 1976 and since then growing stronger over time, shall pursue other means to continue the journal.

Publication is annual, typically in December, mainly in the form of online PDF documents generated from the authors’ submitted documents, but also including Excel spreadsheets with authors’ supporting data. Publication of submissions is not guaranteed where the referees advise against it, authors do not satisfactorily address referees’ comments, or especially if the submission fails to meet the submission criteria listed in the Submission Preparation Checklist.