Call For Papers: Colors in Archaeology: Analytical, Methodological and Conservation Advances Through Case Studies

We are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for a forthcoming Special Issue in ACS Omega dedicated to advances in analytical investigations, methodological approaches and conservation strategies of colors in archaeology, with contributions centered on case studies.

The Guest Editors welcome contributions from interdisciplinary teams that integrate analytical rigor with cultural, historical, and conservation perspectives. High-quality case studies demonstrating both scientific depth and interpretative significance in the study of pigments and dyes in archaeology will be prioritized.

By case studies in archaeology, we mean artifacts (objects made of any material, e.g., stone, pottery, or bone) and/or structures originating from archaeological contexts (e.g., excavations, surveys, or museum collections).

Topics of Interest

In particular, the Guest Editors invite submissions focused on:

• Advances in the material history of a specific object or artifact, providing new insights into the pigments and dyes used, their production, application, degradation or cultural significance;

And/or

• Robust methodological contributions, including validated workflows, uncertainty assessment, datasets, parameters, or reproducibility studies focused on the analysis, characterization, or conservation of pigments and dyes applicable or adaptable to other archaeological or heritage contexts.

This Special Issue aims at addressing recurring gaps in current case studies investigation:

• Strong analytical results with limited contextualization: Many studies deliver high-quality data but do not clearly demonstrate how these results contribute to a deeper understanding of the artifact or to the broader history and use of materials.
• Innovative methodologies with limited evidence: Novel approaches are often introduced without a thorough assessment of their robustness, reproducibility, limitations, and transferability to other case studies.

This Special Issue aims at becoming a benchmark in the field and a solid foundation for truly interdisciplinary research.

Organizing Editors

Armida Sodo, Guest Editor
Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Dipartimento di Scienze, Italy

Claudia Conti, Guest Editor
Institute of Heritage Science (ISPC) of the National Research Council (CNR), Italy

Submission Information

We welcome submissions for this Special Issue through April 30, 2027. For more information on submission requirements, please visit the journal’s Author Guidelines page.

Accepted manuscripts for consideration in this Special Issue will include research articles, perspectives, and viewpoints. Papers accepted for publication for this Special Issue will be available ASAP (as soon as publishable) online as soon as they are accepted. After all submissions have been published, they will then be compiled online on a dedicated landing page to form the Special Issue. Manuscripts submitted for consideration will undergo the full rigorous peer review process expected from ACS journals.

ACS Omega is an open access journal. Please see our website for more information on Open Access Pricing, our Country Discount & Waiver Policy, and Institutional Open Access Agreements.

How to Submit

• Log in to the ACS Publishing Center.
• Select your manuscript type and upload your manuscript and related files.
• Review the title and abstract fields to ensure any pre-populated information has uploaded correctly.
• Under "Special Issue Selection," select Colors in Archeology.
• Confirm all other information has uploaded correctly.
• Submit your article.

If you have any general questions regarding submission to this Special Issue, please contact managing.editor@omega.acs.org.