Authors Guidelines
Author Guidelines
The Isin Journal for Archaeology, History and Ancient Languages (IJAHAL) is an international, peer-reviewed, double-anonymized, open-access journal published by the College of Archaeology, University of Al-Qadisiyah. The journal publishes original scholarly research in archaeology, ancient history, cultural heritage, and ancient languages, with particular emphasis on Mesopotamian and Near Eastern civilizations.
IJAHAL welcomes original research articles, review articles, excavation reports, heritage studies, translations of ancient texts, short communications, and book reviews.
Submission Policy
Manuscripts submitted to IJAHAL must:
- Be original and unpublished
- Not be under consideration elsewhere
- Be written in clear academic English
- Fall within the journal’s aims and scope
- Comply with ethical and academic standards
All submissions undergo an initial editorial screening followed by a double-anonymized peer-review process involving at least two independent reviewers.
Types of Manuscripts
IJAHAL accepts the following categories:
- Original Research Articles
- Review Articles
- Excavation and Field Reports
- Heritage and Preservation Studies
- Ancient Text and Epigraphy Studies
- Short Communications
- Book Reviews
Manuscript Preparation
General Format
Authors should prepare manuscripts in Microsoft Word format using:
- Times New Roman, 12 pt
- Double line spacing
- A4 page size
- Continuous page numbering
Manuscripts should generally include:
- Title
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods / Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References
Abstract and Keywords
- Abstract length: up to 250 words
- Keywords: 4–6 keywords arranged alphabetically
- The abstract should clearly summarize:
- Objectives
- Methodology
- Main findings
- Conclusions
Figures, Tables, and Illustrations
- Figures and tables must be numbered consecutively
- High-quality images are required (JPEG/PNG, minimum 300 dpi)
- Maps, excavation photographs, inscriptions, and artifact images should include proper captions and source information
- Authors are responsible for obtaining copyright permissions when necessary
Referencing Style
IJAHAL uses the Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography format) unless otherwise specified.
Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all references.
Ethical Standards
IJAHAL follows the ethical principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Authors must ensure:
- Originality of submitted work
- Proper citation of sources
- Absence of plagiarism
- Accurate authorship attribution
- Disclosure of conflicts of interest
Any form of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or duplicate publication may result in rejection or retraction.
Archaeological and Heritage Ethics
For archaeological and heritage-related research, authors should provide:
- Legal excavation or research permissions
- Provenance information for artifacts and materials
- Compliance with national and international heritage regulations
- Ethical approval where applicable
Research involving human remains or sensitive heritage materials must comply with recognized ethical standards.
Submission Files
Authors should upload:
- Title Page File
Includes author names, affiliations, ORCID IDs, and corresponding author information. - Blinded Manuscript File
Must not contain author-identifying information. - Figures and Supplementary Files
Uploaded separately when applicable. - Cover Letter
Confirming originality and authorship approval.
Copyright and Open Access
IJAHAL is an open-access journal distributed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 License.
Authors retain copyright of their work while granting the journal the right of first publication.
Publication Ethics and Misconduct
The journal reserves the right to investigate:
- Plagiarism
- Duplicate submission
- Data fabrication
- Citation manipulation
- Ethical misconduct
Corrections, retractions, or editorial expressions of concern will follow COPE guidelines where necessary.
