Publish and be damned

Bibliographic Data

ID6041365
AuthorsGraham Connah (Australian National University, corresponding author)
Year2004
Volume39
Issue1
Pages325-336
Publication date2004-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAzania Archaeological Research in Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0067-270X • E-ISSN: 1945-5534
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00672700409480407
OpenAlexW2021111421
LanguageEN
References cited36

The ultimate goal of archaeological research is publication, an aspect of interpretation that is sometimes given insufficient attention but to which John Alexander has contributed significantly. In the context of African archaeological publication, research monographs remain important, although their cost both in human resources and economic terms may in time lead to a more flexible approach to their production. Inevitably the bulk of specialized publication is in the form of journal papers but suitable outlets in journals that appear promptly and regularly and have a wide distribution are less numerous than might appear and such publication has its own specific problems. However, publication in conference proceedings can be even more frustrating, although the increasingly common edited collections of thematically specialized papers either from conferences or specially written are proving to be an effective medium. Nevertheless, African archaeological publication also needs to reach beyond the specialist reader and both regional and general syntheses have a vital role to play. Although there is a growing volume of such general literature, there is still a need to write for even wider readerships both within and outside of Africa. This is the case particularly for many African communities who are not being reached by the available publications because of cost, availability, language barriers, and the level at which the books are usually written

Archaeology · Context (archaeology) · Interpretation (philosophy) · Library science · Political science · Publication · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Computer Science · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Law · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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