Journal profile · Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Journal of Cultural Heritage
ISSN 1296-2074 · eISSN 1778-3674 · Elsevier Masson · FRANCE · Quarterly · Founded 2000
Journal of Cultural Heritage: CAS Zone 2 · Sociology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.67; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,380; review about 158 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy; 249 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE, AHCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Cultural Heritage is published by Elsevier Masson and is in Zone 2 of Sociology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis, Building materials and conservation and Conservation Techniques and Studies, together about 61.5% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
A Multidisciplinary Journal of Science and Technology for Conservation and Awareness.The Journal of Cultural Heritage (JCH) is a multidisciplinary journal for studying problems concerning the conservation and awareness of cultural heritage in a wide framework. The main purpose of JCH is to publish original papers which comprise previously unpublished data and present innovative methods concerning all scientific aspects related to heritage science.The journal aims to offer a venue to scientists from different disciplines whose common objective is developing and applying scientific methods to improve the research and knowledge on cultural heritage, in particular in the following fields: Safeguarding, conservation and exploitation of cultural heritage; Heritage management and economic analyses; Computer sciences in cultural heritage;Sustainable development and cultural heritage; Impact of climate change on cultural heritage and management of the change.Specifically, papers should deal with the following topics:1. Analysis, knowledge and conservation of heritage assets, developing: Novel methodologies or analytical methods for studying the composition, provenance, dating, conservation state; New materials and methods for the preservation of objects and their assessment; Evaluation of degradation mechanisms and prediction of possible decay processes.2. Conservation of Built Heritage (historical buildings, monuments and archaeological sites, modern and industrial buildings): Analysis of historical materials and construction techniques; Novel inspection, testing and monitoring techniques; Novel or multidisciplinary analyses of materials and structures; Energy efficiency and refurbishment.3. Innovative studies on the interaction between heritage items and the environment (climate, microclimate, light, pollution, VOC, …), including the impact of climate change, risk assessment of cultural heritage and mitigation.4. Digital technologies for knowledge, conservation and restoration, in particular: Multimodal digitization (3D scanning, photogrammetry, multispectral imaging, X-ray, terahertz imaging, …), and data fusion; Heterogenous data analysis, modelling, interlinking and browsing; Semantic-aware representation of multi-dimensional digital artefacts; Virtual, augmented and mixed reality environments; Digital continuum (from digitization to fabrication); Long-term preservation of digital assets.5. Economic studies about the Economy and Management of heritage assets and cultural organizations; articles must use scientific research methods (e.g., econometric and statistical analysis, economic modelling, …) and report innovative research to address economic issues and problems in the field.6. Museum conservation and technologies for the management and improvement of museum collections.The studies should be multidisciplinary, and ideally interdisciplinary, possibly spanning across some of the categories listed above.The Journal of Cultural Heritage is interested in papers: Reporting significant advances in scientific methods and techniques; Presenting multidisciplinary research; Dealing with issues of wide/global interest; Review papers dealing with specific topics in which an up-to-date "state of the art" is presented.The articles must be suitable and considered of great interest for a wide audience; thus, it is foreseen that the number of articles dealing with case studies will be reduced, in order to favor original articles. The journal is not interested in papers related to one well established technique applied to shed light on questions of local interest, nor in papers based on subjective observations or descriptive approaches. Reports on restoration/conservation activities should be avoided unless they present a specific technical or scientific novelty.Occasionally, thematic issues are published as ordinary issues or supplements.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Editor-in-chief Patrizia Tomasin ICMATE-CNRPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 4 in mainland China (about 5%); most named Italy 28, France 12, Portugal 7, Mainland China 4, United States 4 (84 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Cultural Heritage Materials AnalysisArts and Humanities21.7%
- Building materials and conservationEarth and Planetary Sciences21.4%
- Conservation Techniques and StudiesArts and Humanities18.4%
- 3D Surveying and Cultural HeritageEarth and Planetary Sciences7.3%
- Archaeological Research and ProtectionEarth and Planetary Sciences4.1%
- Cultural Heritage Management and PreservationArts and Humanities2.3%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering2%
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studiesEarth and Planetary Sciences1.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Sociology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Sociology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Art | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Analytical | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Sociology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Sociology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Art | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Analytical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 1 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Multidisciplinary Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Art | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Analytical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEAHCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
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
- 3.67LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.7Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.2LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 6.2Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.67LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.54LetPub ·
- h-index
- 53LetPub ·
- h-index
- 108OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,008OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.96OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 45.19%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 229LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,397 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 180 | 109 | 48 |
| 2025 | 249 | 140 | 731 |
| 2024 | 217 | 113 | 1,777 |
| 2023 | 212 | 114 | 2,624 |
| 2022 | 172 | 67 | 2,567 |
| 2021 | 137 | 61 | 2,839 |
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
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
158 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 6 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 6 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 75 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 158 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 18 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher 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 3,380 / EUR 3,160 / GBP 2,710 / JPY 419,220 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
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 prepare8 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 500 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 3,500 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted9, with length limits
- case reportFor case reports you are required to follow CARE guidelines and provide the CARE checklist at manuscript submission.Read the CARE guidelinesFollow the CARE chec…Length not stated
- case studiesCase studies report the application of common, usual methods and analysis to specific objects/artifacts or cases. A very limited number of case studies are acce…Length not stated
- case studybject of study or the obtained results. Case studies and short notes should be no more than 3500 words (4 figures, 2 tables). Technical history articles These a…main text ≤ 3,500 words · figures and tables ≤ 4
- cross-disciplinary perspectivesCross-Disciplinary Perspectives Forward-looking, conceptual articles that propose new theoretical frameworks or paradigms and anticipate future transformations …Length not stated
- original research articlesOriginal research articles These must report novel and innovative methods, methodologies or materials for the analysis and conservation of heritage assets. They…Length not stated
- reviewthan just reporting what's been found. Review papers should not exceed 10000 words, and they should provide an up-to-date bibliography (not inmain text ≤ 10,000 words
- review papersReview Papers Journal of Cultural Heritage welcome review papers that present a critical and contemporary survey of the state of the art within a defined field …Length not stated
- short notesShort notes Concise scientific reports designed to rapidly share important new findings or developments within a specific field. Unlike full-length articles, th…Length not stated
- technical history articlesTechnical history articles These articles go far beyond simply presenting individual case studies, offering instead an in-depth analysis of the techniques or te…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Ethics in publishing Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed; free preprint posting service on SSRN offered Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
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
- Elsevier Masson
- Country or region
- FRANCE
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2000
- ISSN
- 1296-2074
- Electronic ISSN
- 1778-3674
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Cultural Heritage
What CAS zone is Journal of Cultural Heritage in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Cultural Heritage is in Zone 2 of Sociology, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Art / Chemistry, Analytical / Spectroscopy / Archaeology / Geosciences, Multidisciplinary / Materials Science, Multidisciplinary. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Sociology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Cultural Heritage?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.67; CiteScore 6.2, h-index 108.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Cultural Heritage?
The publisher reports about 158 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 6 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. 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 Journal of Cultural Heritage?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 500 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Manuscript length: ≤ 3,500 words; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: 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 Journal of Cultural Heritage based?
Of the 84 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 4 (about 5%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Italy (28), France (12) and Portugal (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Cultural Heritage?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Cultural Heritage is indexed in SCIE, AHCI and Scopus.
Is Journal of Cultural Heritage open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Cultural Heritage is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,380.
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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .