Typifying scientific output: a bibliometric analysis of archaeological publishing across the science/humanities spectrum (2009–2013)

Abstract

This article presents the results of a bibliometric analysis conducted on all original research papers published in six high-ranking archaeological journals between 2009 and 2013, consisting of 926 papers. The purpose is to identify the general features characterizing the output of archaeological publishing within the given time frame and to discuss the results in light of the science/humanities divide of archaeology. It expands previous work, covering not just scientific or humanistic parts of archaeology, but sub-disciplinary niches across the science/humanities-spectrum. Significant differences are identified amongst the journals on an array of parameters, including journal statistics, citation network, thematic distribution, the application of methods and the direction of relevance to other sub-fields. Most significantly, established correlations of academic publishing are for the first time identified in archaeology, regarding the structure of citation networks, the connectedness of high-ranking journals and how specific affiliations to either side of the science/humanities divide affect publishing. In the end, these results are taken to represent a sub-optimal division of labor between archaeological sub-fields, tentatively explained by the continued relevance of the science/humanities divide in archaeology, by providing diverse epistemic underpinnings.

Análisis De La Revista “Arqueología Y Sociedad”

“…La ciencia se muestra como parte integral de la arqueología en su conjunto, pero los desafíos se presentan particularmente en la búsqueda continua de nuevos métodos para responder preguntas claves de la arqueología y el mantenimiento del rigor, la importancia, la sostenibilidad y la responsabilidad social de la revista. Jørgensen (2015) presenta un análisis bibliométrico de las correlaciones establecidas respecto a la conectividad de las revistas especializadas en arqueología de alto impacto, la relación entre los tipos de artículos y los métodos utilizados, la diferencia entre las afiliaciones en la división ciencia o humanidades que afectan las publicaciones en arqueología. Los datos comprenden 926 artículos de investigación originales publicados entre 2009 y 2013 por seis revistas arqueológicas de primer nivel, que cubren nichos sub-disciplinarios en el espectro de la división ciencias y humanidades.…”

Una mirada cuantitativa sobre las primeras cuatro décadas de la zooarqueología de los Andes Centro-Sur

“…Entre los segundos se encuentra la bibliometría o cuantificación de publicaciones. Entre sus aplicaciones están medir la producción científica, evaluar tendencias temáticas y metodológicas y explorar la historia y estructura de los campos disciplinares (Grana y Fernández, 2018;Hummon y Dereian, 1989;Jørgensen, 2015;King, 1987;Mays, 2010;Spengler y Kligmann, 2017).…”

Deep Pasts – Deep Futures A Palaeoenvironmental Humanities Perspective from the Stone Age to the Human Age

“…These are broad generalisations, which despite rallying calls for greater attention to dimensions of social justice, to public archaeology and to nature culture interactions (Hudson et al 2012) persist, I would argue, to this day. Many of us may be able to recognise these fuzzy borders in our own institu tions, where they retain reality in teaching, in research clustering and publi cation strategies (Jørgensen 2015). Encouragingly, some environmental ar chaeologists are seizing the opportunity to engage with the environmental humanities on their premises (Richer & Gearey 2017a, 2017b, while an increasing number of historical environmental studies are being published that take an explicit interest in the environment, and which also articulate directly with the broader trend of the environmental humanities and con temporary concerns of climate and environmental change (e.g.…”