Opening Access to Archaeology

Abstract

The article begins by explaining why, from its establishment in 2007, the European Research Council (ERC) encouraged all researchers to engage with Open Access. Its enthusiasm for OA derives from the early recognition by the Scientific Council of the ERC that OA enables the dissemination of new knowledge more rapidly and extensively than previously, and there seemed no reason to believe in 2007 that OA would involve researchers in any significant additional expense. The author explains how assumptions concerning costs were challenged by some publishers particularly after several funding agencies, including the European Commission, made it mandatory to have all publications that resulted from the research they had funded, available on free OA platforms within 6 months of first publication. He details the undignified argument between authors, publishers and research funders over both journal costs and OA charges that ensued, and the author also alludes to some of the solutions suggested by various parties, including some European governments. While acknowledging that no resolution has yet been reached, the author suggests that OA is here to stay and that the benefits and requirements of OA are being visited on researchers in Social Science and Humanities disciplines as well as those in the Sciences. The paper provides a summary of some of the particular objections to OA being voiced by Humanities scholars, but the author concludes that, rather than attempt to defeat what is inevitable, Humanities scholars should embrace OA and seek to adapt the associated technologies and policies to meet Humanities requirements. The author concludes by alluding to some of the challenges that OA presents to researchers in particular Humanities disciplines, including Archaeology, and suggests some possible means of overcoming them.