Journal of Skyscape Archaeology

Journal of Skyscape Archaeology

The Journal of Skyscape Archaeology (JSA) is concerned with the role and importance of the sky in the interpretation of the material record. Currently, elements of this study can be found separately in the disciplines of archaeoastronomy, archaeology, cultural astronomy, anthropology and history. JSA brings them together under the aegis of a new academic journal in order to promote cross-fertilization towards an understanding of the cosmologies of the societies who constructed and used the rich archaeological heritage we study today. Consequently JSA encourages articles that consider the relationship between material culture, the sky and society, from a wide range of disciplines. By bringing together current worldwide research, regardless of period or culture, JSA provides a shared interdisciplinary forum for skyscape archaeology.

Recently, with the rise of interpretative archaeologies, cosmology and ideology have taken a central role in the interpretation of the archaeological record. Landscape archaeology, for example, has become concerned with exploring the relationships between sites and the landscapes in which they are situated. Archaeoastronomers are also starting to move away from simple alignment identification towards interpretations that take the landscape and the wider archaeological context into account. Skyscape Archaeology bridges the gap between the two fields to provide interpretations which are more far-reaching. JSA creates a space for this multidisciplinary theme by persuading archaeologists to expand their horizons and take the sky into account as another “–scape”, as well as encouraging archaeoastronomers to ground their interpretations on the material record. This much needed mutual exchange will foster multidisciplinary collaborations, further research and debate, as well as methodological innovation.

JSA is an international peer-reviewed journal which publishes a variety of articles. These include Theory & Methods Articles dealing with methodological and theoretical aspects of the discipline; regular Research Articles which are generally research question or case-study driven; Forums, where an important question for debate is discussed and followed by a series of short responses from different scholars; and Reprints of key papers in the discipline’s history with new commentaries by modern authorities. Book and Conference Reviews will also be published and potential reviewers should contact the Editors prior to submitting a review.

Potential contributors should consult the Journal's Guidelines which can be found on the for Authors page below.

Publication of the Journal of Skyscape Archaeology has been aided by a Grant from the Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture, School of Archaeology, History and Anthropology, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Call for Papers

A Call for Papers is available to download in PDF format. There is also more information on the JSA facebook page

Editorial Board          │         for Authors          │         Subscriptions

Co-Editors
Fabio Silva
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
University College London

Liz Henty
University of Wales Trinity Saint David