Focus and Scope

Bioarchaeology International is a journal that is global in scope, providing rigorous peer-reviewed publication of substantive articles related to the study of archaeological human remains and mortuary sites. Submissions that are contextually and theoretically informed, and explore the human condition and ways in which human remains and their funerary contexts can provide unique insight on variation, behavior, and lifestyle of past people and communities are encouraged. Studies may represent varying scales of analysis (e.g., regional, community, site/sample, individual, structural, cellular or molecular) that focus on theoretical and methodological issues in the field. Topics of interest include mortuary archaeology and funerary practices, social identity and life course, demography, diet, disease, activity and behavior, residential mobility and migration, skeletal and dental morphological variation and biodistance, trajectories of growth and development, taphonomic processes, responses to shifts in climate or subsistence, responses to colonization or conquest, and other relevant subjects.

Types of Papers

• Research Articles: Full-length theoretically informed and data-oriented submissions related to the intent and scope of the journal. These papers may include broad interregional comparisons, regional perspectives, population/community or site/sample level analyses, or explore themes of interest in bioarchaeology. Manuscripts should range from 6000–8000 words, excluding tables, figure captions, and references. 

• Brief Reports: Shorter submissions that may be of a methodological or technical nature or provide innovative perspectives or insights of interest to other investigators. Manuscripts should be 2000–3000 words in length, excluding tables, figure captions, and references.

• Invited Commentary: Essays that provide synthetic commentary and perspectives on recent themes or issues in the field. Commentary normally will be invited by the editors-in-chief, though proposals to contribute an essay on a particular topic may also be considered. Manuscripts usually should not exceed 5000 words exclusive of tables, figure captions, and references.

Peer Review Process

Submission website: https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/bioarchaeolint

Please ensure that you consider the journal style guidelines when preparing your manuscript. Failure to do so may delay the processing of your submission. A downloadable version of the guide for authors is available by clicking here.

All submissions are reviewed by the Editorial Assistant who confirms that the manuscript fits the scope of the journal and is suitable for peer review. Submissions considered suitable are assigned to one of the two Co-Editors-in-Chief (EIC). The EIC assigns an Associate Editor (AE) to handle the peer review process. The AE sends the manuscript to at least two independent experts who assess the article for clarity, validity, and sound methodology.

The journal operates with a single-blind peer review process, meaning that the authors are revealed to the reviewers, but the reviewers remain anonymous.

The review period is expected to take around four weeks. Reviewers are asked to provide formative feedback, even if an article is not deemed suitable for publication in the journal. Based on the reviewer reports the AE will make a recommendation for rejection, minor or major revisions, or acceptance. Overall editorial responsibility rests with the journal’s Co-Editors-in-Chief, who are supported by an expert, international Editorial Board.

Publication Frequency

Articles are made available in Early View as soon as they are ready to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in getting content publicly available. These articles are later gathered into quarterly issues for print.