International Journal of Historical Archaeology

Edited by:
  • Charles E. Orser
Plenum Press. 4/yr USA $100, elsewhere $115 (institutional); $35 (personal)
A dig at Lime Kiln Dock in London, overlooked by the tower of Canary Wharf. Credit: A. CHOPPING/ MUSEUM OF LONDON ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICE

The archaeologies of the medieval, industrial and particularly early modern periods are relative newcomers, the latter being the most recent addition. Since the 1960s, it has been steadily growing, notably in the Anglo-Saxon world. Elsewhere in Europe, the importance and potential of sixteenth- to eighteenth-century remains are now also slowly being recognized. Journals such as Post-Medieval Archaeology and Historical Archaeology (published since 1967 by the UK Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology and the US Society for Historical Archaeology respectively) have created models, but there is room for more international approaches as well as more theoretical and applied research. Hence this new journal.

Judging from the editor's introduction, the journal's target area is the archaeology of any ‘historical’ period in any region of the planet. It offers medium-sized to more extensive papers, from about 10 to 45 pages long. Some are reprints of less readily accessible papers, but most of the 20-odd papers now published are new, and all bar one focus on the past half-millennium and on the formerly colonized world outside Europe. The contributions are well presented and seem to be published fairly rapidly, in a handy 23 cm by 15 cm standard format, on paper allowing for good drawings and reasonable (though not high-quality) photographs.

A ‘Views and Commentaries’ section presents innovative and thought-provoking statements on issues confronting archaeologists of historical periods. Reviews and book reviews are not (yet?) offered but comments on published papers occasionally are.

The contents and scope of the first two volumes are very satisfying to anyone interested in ethnic and social issues in archaeology, including the impact of colonization and the role played by different components of material culture in shaping early modern history in many parts of the world.

Apart from the very useful information, I find the most stimulating feature to be the strong direct or indirect emphasis on methodology and theory in archaeology and material culture studies. This contributes not only to a better understanding of our recent past but also to the development of archaeology as a whole. This is why the series gives real value at a very reasonable price.