Publication Policy and Process

PHILIA. International Journal of Ancient Mediterranean Studies strives to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and scholarly excellence in the publication of research related to the ancient Mediterranean world. Our publication policy ensures transparency, fairness, and consistency throughout the editorial and peer review processes.

Editorial Review

Each manuscript submitted to PHILIA undergoes a preliminary editorial review to assess its alignment with the journal’s aims, scope, and academic standards. The Editorial Board evaluates whether the manuscript fits within the journal’s thematic focus and meets the minimum quality requirements for scholarly work in the field of ancient Mediterranean studies.

Once an article is deemed appropriate for further consideration, it is processed through the iThenticate software for plagiarism detection and to calculate the Similarity Index (SI). Manuscripts that show evidence of significant overlap with previously published material or fail to meet the journal’s originality standards are subject to rejection.

If the manuscript passes the editorial review and plagiarism check, it is then forwarded to two external, independent reviewers for the peer review process. This process ensures that only high-quality, original, and scientifically rigorous articles are published in the journal.

Peer Review Process

PHILIA adheres to a rigorous double-blind peer review system. Under this system, both the identities of the authors and the reviewers are concealed from each other, ensuring an unbiased review process. The goal of this approach is to promote fairness, eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, and guarantee that the article is evaluated solely based on its academic merit.

Once submitted, each manuscript is reviewed by at least two qualified experts in the relevant field of study. These reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the subject matter of the article. They provide feedback on the article’s scholarly contribution, methodological rigor, clarity, and overall quality.

  • Acceptance Criteria: A manuscript is considered for publication only if it receives at least two positive reviews.

  • Conflict Resolution: In cases where one reviewer provides a negative review and another provides a positive review, the Editorial Board may decide to either request a third review or reject the article.

  • Revision Requests: In instances where minor revisions are needed, authors can address reviewers' comments and resubmit their revised manuscript. Authors must submit a detailed response to the reviewers' comments alongside the revised version of the manuscript.

PHILIA follows the ethical principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ensuring transparency and integrity in all stages of the editorial process.

Editorial Independence

The editorial decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of an article are made solely by the Editorial Board and the peer reviewers, without any external influence. The Board ensures that all submitted manuscripts are evaluated objectively based on the scholarly merit of the work and in accordance with the journal’s standards of quality, ethics, and originality.

While the journal is open to potential sponsorship or advertising in the future, no such influence will be allowed to interfere with the editorial independence or the academic quality of the content published in PHILIA.

Ethical Standards and Conflict of Interest

In line with best practices in academic publishing, PHILIA is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards. All manuscripts submitted to the journal must adhere to the following ethical guidelines:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Manuscripts must be the original work of the authors and must not have been published elsewhere. Proper citations and references should be provided for all sources used, and plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Authors, reviewers, and editors must declare any conflicts of interest that may arise during the review and publication process. In cases where conflicts of interest are identified, steps will be taken to resolve the issue in a manner that maintains fairness and integrity.

  • Research Ethics: Articles involving human or animal subjects must adhere to ethical standards in research, with necessary approvals from ethical review boards where applicable.

Article Rejection and Appeals

The decision is final if an article is rejected after the peer review process. Authors have the right to appeal the decision if they believe that due process has not been followed. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Editorial Board, clearly stating the reasons for the appeal and any supporting evidence. The Board will review the appeal and provide a response in a timely manner.

Publication Frequency and Access

PHILIA is published annually, with each issue containing a selection of peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, and scholarly essays on topics related to ancient Mediterranean studies. The journal is Open Access, meaning that all content is freely available online without any subscription or access fees.

Final Decision and Publication

After a successful peer review, the Editorial Board makes the final decision on the acceptance of a manuscript. Authors will be notified of the decision within a reasonable timeframe, and once accepted, the article will be prepared for publication. Authors can review their final proofs before the article is published online.

Each article is assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) upon publication to ensure its permanence and easy citation in academic work.