Journal profile · Multiple
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology
ISSN 2520-8217
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology: CAS Zone 1 · History (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 2.5 (journal website); hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,190; median 208 days to acceptance (39 articles, last 24 months); 41 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology is in Zone 1 of History in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology, Archaeology and ancient environmental studies and Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies, together about 69.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Archeology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology is aimed at all Plio-Pleistocene archaeologists and other scientists researching Paleolithic archaeology. It covers all aspects of Paleoanthropology, including biological and cultural human evolution, paleoecology, dating, site formation processes, diet, paleoclimate, taphonomy, zooarchaeology, geoarchaeology and many more fields applied to Paleolithic period sites. JPA publishes archaeological research from the earliest paleoanthropological discoveries in Africa to the peopling of Oceania and the Americas. The Journal publishes four types of studies: Articles, Discussions, Reports, and Short communications and News. All studies should provide new data and discussion on discoveries of sites or hominin fossils; theoretical and methodological advancements; site stratigraphies or other data-descriptive reports including analyses of new or old artefactual collections; and main research studies on Paleolithic archeology addressing broad topics of interest in Paleoanthropology. This journal provides an international environment for archaeologists and other scientists with a wide spectrum of expertise focusing on the development of Plio-Pleistocene archaeology around the world to develop new perspectives and data on human biological and cultural evolution.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Multiple
Editor-in-chief Shannon J.P.Publisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 6, France 3, Germany 2, Australia 2, Portugal 2 (19 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologySocial Sciences32.5%
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studiesEarth and Planetary Sciences26.2%
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesArts and Humanities10.5%
- Evolution and Paleontology StudiesEarth and Planetary Sciences5.3%
- Geology and Paleoclimatology ResearchEarth and Planetary Sciences5.2%
- Archaeology and Rock Art StudiesSocial Sciences4.9%
- Archaeological and Geological StudiesArts and Humanities3.9%
- Primate Behavior and EcologyPsychology1.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)History Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | History | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Anthropology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)History Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | History | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Anthropology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Archaeology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
ESCILetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
ScopusPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
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 (publisher) 2025
- 2.5Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 2.6Publisher website ·
- h-index
- 27OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 96OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.47OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 12%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 65.77%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 40LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 227,700Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 269 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 20 | 17 |
| 2025 | 41 | 29 | 103 |
| 2024 | 37 | 34 | 244 |
| 2023 | 33 | 19 | 249 |
| 2022 | 26 | 21 | 230 |
| 2021 | 32 | 15 | 453 |
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
208 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 131 days – 277 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 36 days (73 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 249 days
- Sample
- 39 articles with submission and acceptance dates (78 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
- Submission to first decision
- 11 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous 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 3,190 / EUR 2,590 / GBP 2,290 | — | — |
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 prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- APA
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted4
- articlesThe journal accepts Articles, Discussions, and Short Reports.Length not stated
- discussionsThe journal accepts Articles, Discussions, and Short Reports.Length not stated
- editorialSingle-blind peer review This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. Editorial Procedure—additional information Peer Review Process The Journal of …Length not stated
- short reportsThe journal accepts Articles, Discussions, and Short Reports.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
Original work, not under consideration elsewhere, approved by co-authors and responsible authorities. Model summary
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Research data encouraged to be archived in repositories. Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Permission required for previously published material. Model summary
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer Review Process
Single-blind peer review Model summary
The Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology follows a single-blind peer review process. Although the Editors of the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology strive for the most timely and efficient process for peer review, our over-arching goal is to provide substantive reviews to our authors along with constructive suggestions for improvements and clarifications when needed. Manuscripts submitted to the Jou…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints
Editable source files required at every submission and revision. Model summary
Please ensure you provide all relevant editable source files at every submission and revision. Failing to submit a complete set of editable source files will result in your article not being considered for review.
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
- ISSN
- 2520-8217
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology
What CAS zone is Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology is in Zone 1 of History, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Anthropology / Archaeology; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of History. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 2.5 (2025); this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; h-index 27.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology?
Based on the dates recorded on 39 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 208 days (interquartile range 131–277 days). 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 Paleolithic Archaeology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: APA; Suggested reviewers: Optional. 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 Paleolithic Archaeology based?
Of the 19 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (6), France (3) and Germany (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology is indexed in ESCI. The journal's website also lists Scopus; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,190.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; 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 2026-08-24). Last updated: .