This journal strives to be global in coverage, though articles need not have an international focus to be considered for publication. The aim of the journal is to provide a timely, authoritative, and international outlet for current scholarship in historical archaeology. The goal of the International Journal of Historical Archaeology is to provide a truly international outlet for research in historical archaeology. In some places, the term refers to archaeology focused on post-Columbian sites, while in others, archaeologists use the term simply to refer to archaeology that focuses on a literate period.
Some scholars even use the term broadly to mean archaeology supplemented with historical writings.
As a professional historical archaeologist, I have my own ideas about what historical archaeology is or should be, but the purpose of the journal is to explore all possible meanings of the term as way of further refining and sharpening the field. Practitioners of historical archaeology realize how young their field is compared to prehistoric archaeology, and how much remains to be learned. The task of learning so much that is often considered outside archaeology's purview is both a blessing and a curse. As a result of the wide base of knowledge from which historical archaeologists draw, this journal accepts articles on any subject and expressing any theoretical perspective. Detailed, descriptive pieces are every bit as significant as deep theoretical articles, and we welcome both.