Evolution of an interdisciplinary enterprise: the Journal of Archaeological Science at 35 years

The Journal of Archaeological Science first appeared in 1974 as an explicitly interdisciplinary medium, linking archaeology with the natural sciences, and one that emphasizes methodological innovation. This editorial analysis examines the steady growth of the journal from 400 to 3200 print pages per annum, and from a small to a large, double-column format. The impact factor increased until it became the leading archaeological journal overall. Tracking the published papers according to national origin, manuscripts from the USA began to outpace those from the UK in 1990, and Australia, South Africa and Canada are well represented. After 2000 the influx of papers from non-Anglophone countries also increased rapidly until by 2008 they exceeded those from the UK or USA. A growing interest for archaeological science is suggested in Mediterranean countries such as France, Israel, Spain and Italy. Thematic trends are more difficult to track due to the growing structural complexity of many papers. That said, there is no striking thematic shift, confirming the viability of the inclusive philosophy and diversity of the journal, and its balance between problems and analytical innovation, as applied to significant archaeological issues. Possible editorial responses to changing directions in archaeology are discussed. For all scientific periodicals, the efficacy of the peer-review system today is challenged by the increasing numbers of journals and manuscripts, together with the greater specialization of high-tech methods. This demands greater professional responsibility as well as new solutions.