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Publication of ISA 2026 Contributions through PCI Archaeology and the Peer Community Journal

International Symposium on Archaeometry (ISA 2026) offers presenters the opportunity to publish their research  through Peer Community in Archaeology (PCI Archaeology) and, if recommended, as peer-reviewed articles in the Peer Community Journal (PCJ). 

ISA 2026 does not publish a traditional proceedings volume. Instead, authors may submit a full manuscript to PCI Archaeology, where it undergoes a rigorous, transparent, and community-driven peer-review process coordinated by appointed recommenders.

Manuscripts that receive a PCI recommendation are subsequently published as individual free-of-charge Diamond Open-Access articles in the Peer Community Journal, within a thematic collection (special issue) associated with ISA 2026.

This publication model is particularly well-suited to archaeometry, diagnostics, conservation science, and heritage science, where research relies on complex analytical methods, instrumental datasets, and explicit interpretative choices. PCI Archaeology allows methodological decisions, uncertainties, and limits to be openly discussed and evaluated as integral components of the scientific publication, thereby aligning with the commitment to open science pursued by the ISA 2026 organisers.

FAQ

  1. Does presenting at ISA 2026 increase the chances of publication?

Presenting at ISA 2026 provides a scientific context and a thematic framework, but publication decisions are entirely independent. Each manuscript is evaluated on its own merits through open peer review within PCI Archaeology.

  1. Who manages the peer-review process?

Peer review is coordinated by appointed recommenders (equivalent to associate editors), selected among recognised scholars and aligned with the thematic areas of the conference. Reviews are public, reasoned, and signed, ensuring transparency and accountability.

  1. How does this differ from submitting directly to a journal?

In this model, scientific evaluation comes first and is fully transparent, while publication follows only after a positive recommendation.

  1. Is this model appropriate for highly technical or laboratory-based studies?

Yes. The PCI model is particularly suitable for research involving analytical methods, diagnostic data, and complex interpretation, where documenting uncertainty, limits, and methodological choices is essential.

  1. How is this publication pathway evaluated in terms of academic recognition?

Articles are published in the Peer Community Journal, a Diamond Open-Access journal indexed in both Web of Science (Impact Factor 2024: 2.0) and Scopus (CiteScore 2024: 2.5). At the same time, the model aligns with responsible research assessment principles, valuing transparency and quality over metric optimisation.

  1. Can poster presenters submit a manuscript to PCI Archaeology?

Yes. Submission is open to both poster and oral presenters at ISA 2026. Authors may submit one manuscript for each contribution.

  1. Does the manuscript need to correspond exactly to the poster or oral presentation?

The manuscript must be clearly related to your ISA 2026 contribution, but does not need to be identical. You may explore a specific aspect in more detail or broaden the scope, as long as it remains directly connected to the conference research.

  1. How many manuscripts can an author submit?

Authors may submit one manuscript per contribution presented at ISA 2026, whether poster or oral. Each submission will be independently evaluated through the PCI Archaeology open peer-review process.