Research Transparency | Datasets, supplementary material and multimedia files | Ethical considerations and Confidential Information

Datasets, supplementary material and multimedia files

The Journal of Roman Archaeology highly encourages all authors of articles that feature quantitative analysis or rely on images, materials, protocols, or software code to make data available for replication purposes. Authors should also ensure that they are meeting data replication and deposit requirements stipulated by their funding bodies and institutions as well as any regulations set by governments or other bodies responsible for materials or sites under analysis.

JRA also encourages appropriate citation of data by other researchers.

Authors are also welcome to publish other forms of multimedia supplementary material online wherever it serves to enhance the argument or otherwise enrich an article (see also Supplementary Material below). This could include, but will not necessarily be limited to, large images, videos, and audio files. A full set of file specifications and instructions concerning supplementary material of this kind can be found here.

JRA can host data as supplementary material on the journal’s website, and authors wishing to avail themselves of this facility should supply all files electronically once an article has been accepted for publication. This platform ensures that the article and the data are published together and accessible to our readership.

Alternatively, data can be hosted on a site such as the Digital Archaeological Record, the Archaeological Data Service, PANGAEA, Dataverse or DRYAD (or an appropriate institutional or subject repository).

Where the data involve artifact collections and/or records, authors should provide relevant archival information. Authors should also note if materials have been turned over to a state or national repository, institute, organization, or other relevant body.

Data should be cited in the article, and where possible, permanent links should be provided. The easiest route is when data are hosted on the journal’s website, and a link is provided when the article is typeset. Other options might include a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), a tDAR ID, or an ADS collection number.

Useful materials typically include data used for the analysis, images, specialized computer programs or the source code of these algorithms, program recodes, research protocols, and a metadata file that details what is included in the data set and how the results can be reproduced.

Articles should include information about processes by which any data were manipulated.

Original images and maps that have been edited or processed for a journal article may also be provided in their original form. This step may be important when an image is processed to highlight a particular feature, as the original file allows readers to validate the image processing and interpretation of the results. 

Authors should also disclose the sources for maps and describe processes by which any modifications have been made to maps published in the article or included as supplementary material.

Further information about research transparency may be found here.

Ethical considerations and Confidential Information

Editorial decisions about which submissions will go forward to peer review take into account archaeological best practices, which include ethical considerations. Authors must have proper permission to publish the material in question and have followed internationally recognized ethical standards of archaeological practice. JRA follows the AIA’s policy on publishing undocumented antiquities and in addition adopts as ethical policy the guidelines and spirit of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and its Annex Rules. Work published in JRA must conform to the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, First and Second Protocols. JRA will query and may ultimately decline to publish any submission that is not consistent with this framework.

It may not be possible to share publicly some resources, particularly where ethical and cultural sensitivities must be considered. In such cases authors should seek permissions where appropriate. If data cannot be shared, it would be useful to note this constraint in the published article.

Articles should not include sensitive material such as personally identifiable data. In some cases it may not be appropriate to provide exact geographic co-ordinates or other locally identifiable features. De-identified or aggregated data derived from sensitive materials may be appropriate to include, depending on context.

Authors contributing to the journal are expected to adhere to standards established by the relevant professional bodies, such as the AIA’s Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Standards.