Journal profile · Multiple
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
ISSN 1047-482X · eISSN 1099-1212 · Wiley-Blackwell
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology: CAS Zone 3 · History (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 0.91; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,220; median 159 days to acceptance (100 articles, last 24 months); acceptance rate 54% (journal website); 114 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI, AHCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology is published by Wiley-Blackwell and is in Zone 3 of History in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies, Archaeology and ancient environmental studies and Paleopathology and ancient diseases, together about 54.5% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The aim of the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology is to provide a forum for the publication of papers dealing with all aspects of the study of human and animal bones from archaeological contexts. The journal will publish original research papers, short reports and commentaries dealing with human or animal bone research from all areas of the world. All papers are subject to rigorous peer review. Our main aim is to publish theoretically informed studies that explore how human and animal remains can be examined to provide detailed and nuanced information about the behaviour and ideology of past cultures. Population level studies of archaeological material are encouraged from any of the following areas of work: Methodology papers on aging, sexing and taphonomic factors that advance current practice are considered for publication but they must demonstrate clear and widespread applicability in archaeological contexts. Palaeopathology studies of human and animal diseases are encouraged especially as diagnosed and interpreted from skeletal remains, including radiographic, histological, biochemical and immunological studies. Case studies of isolated pathologies or from single individuals are not accepted unless they are truly unique, important and representative of a never before reported upon phenomena. While studies of modern pathology may be considered, they must demonstrate clear and widespread applicability in archaeological contexts Biomolecular analyses (DNA, isotopes, proteomics) exploring issues of human and animal diet, mobility, relationships or exposure to toxic substances are considered The journal is aimed principally towards all those with a professional interest in the study of ancient and historic human and animal bones. This includes archaeologists, bioarchaeologists, anthropologists, human and animal bone specialists, palaeopathologists and medical historians. We also hope to attract and encourage students and others for whom this field is of serious but peripheral interest.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Multiple
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 10%); most named United States 5, United Kingdom 3, Mainland China 2, Japan 1, South Korea 1 (21 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesArts and Humanities29.4%
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studiesEarth and Planetary Sciences14.6%
- Paleopathology and ancient diseasesArts and Humanities10.6%
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologySocial Sciences10.1%
- Forensic and Genetic ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.9%
- Pacific and Southeast Asian StudiesSocial Sciences3.4%
- Wildlife Ecology and ConservationEnvironmental Science3%
- Isotope Analysis in EcologyEnvironmental Science2.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)History Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | History | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Anthropology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)History Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | History | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Anthropology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)History Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | History | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Anthropology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIAHCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Web of ScienceCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: ProQuest
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 0.91LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 0.9Publisher website ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 0.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 2.4Publisher website ·
- CiteScore (publisher) 2025
- 2.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.53LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.78LetPub ·
- h-index
- 91OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,259OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 0.86OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 11.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 40.23%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 93LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 2,023Publisher website ·
- Articles per year (publisher) 2025
- 100Publisher website ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 198,036Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,007 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 112 | 58 | 17 |
| 2025 | 114 | 72 | 117 |
| 2024 | 105 | 71 | 151 |
| 2023 | 86 | 53 | 231 |
| 2022 | 124 | 67 | 530 |
| 2021 | 136 | 47 | 876 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
159 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 106 days – 239 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 16 days (100 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 192 days
- Sample
- 100 articles with submission and acceptance dates (242 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Acceptance rate (publisher)
- 54%Publisher website ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher) 2025
- 54%Publisher website ·
- Submission to first decision
- 37 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to first decision 2025
- 37 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance 2025
- 144 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication 2025
- 14 daysPublisher website ·
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,220 / EUR 3,520 / GBP 2,810 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 300 words
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 8,000 words
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
Article types accepted9, with length limits
- commentariesCommentaries: Should refer to a recent publication or a timely issue related to the general field of osteoarchaeology. Commentaries generally provide clarificat…Length not stated
- commentaryf five figures and/or tables permitted. Commentary: These must be no more than 1500 words including references and it may contain one figure or tablemain text ≤ 1,500 words
- editorialWiley requires that all authors disclose any potential conflict of interest. Any interest or relationship, financial or otherwise, which might be perceived as i…Length not stated
- methods and toolsMethods and Tools: Osteological identification guides that provide advances in diagnostic criteria for osteoarchaeological research, such as zooarchaeological s…Length not stated
- research articleion-policy.html Limits and restrictions Research Articles: These are limited to 6000 words including references with a total of ten figures and/or tabmain text ≤ 6,000 words
- research articlesResearch Articles: Original papers will be considered dealing with human or animal bone research from any area of the world. Typically, research articles would …Length not stated
- review articlend it may contain one figure or table). Review Articles: These are limited to 8000 words including references, with a total of ten figures and/or tamain text ≤ 8,000 words
- review articlesReview Articles: Papers bringing together the key past work on a topic in order to reach new conclusions or gain an improved understanding of a research field. …Length not stated
- short reportsShort Reports: New findings or results that would be of value to the international readership of IJO can be submitted in a more compact format as a Short Report…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Use in Manuscripts
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology requires authors to declare any use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) technologies in manuscript preparation at the time of submission. This transparency ensures the integrity of scholarly communication and maintains the standards of scientific publication. Please refer to the publisher's policy on general guidance and best practices for more …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright Transfer Agreement
If your paper is accepted, the author identified as the formal corresponding author for the paper will receive an email prompting them to login into Author Services; where via the Wiley Author Licensing Service (WALS) they will be able to complete the license agreement on behalf of all authors on the paper.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access For authors choosing Open Access
If the Open Access option is selected the corresponding author will have a choice of the following Creative Commons License Open Access Agreements (OAA): Creative Commons Attribution License OAA Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License OAA Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial -NoDerivs License OAA To preview the terms and conditions of these open access agreements please visit th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- ISSN
- 1047-482X
- Electronic ISSN
- 1099-1212
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 36, Issue 4 (August 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
What CAS zone is International Journal of Osteoarchaeology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology is in Zone 3 of History, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Archaeology / Anthropology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of History. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Journal of Osteoarchaeology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 0.91; CiteScore 2.4, h-index 91.
How long does peer review take at International Journal of Osteoarchaeology?
Based on the dates recorded on 100 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 159 days (interquartile range 106–239 days); the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 54% (2025). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of International Journal of Osteoarchaeology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 300 words; Manuscript length: ≤ 8,000 words; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of International Journal of Osteoarchaeology based?
Of the 21 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 10%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (5), United Kingdom (3) and Mainland China (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Journal of Osteoarchaeology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology is indexed in SSCI, AHCI and Scopus. The journal's website also lists Web of Science and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is International Journal of Osteoarchaeology open access, and what is the APC?
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,220.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .