Plagiarism Policy

Purpose and Ethical Framework

The journal Archaeology strictly observes international standards in the field of combating plagiarism and is guided by the guidelines and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
The aim of the journal is to ensure the reliability of scientific research, transparency, and high academic ethics.
Any manifestation of plagiarism is regarded as a serious ethical violation and is in contradiction with the editorial standards of the journal.

 

Definition and Forms of Plagiarism

Plagiarism means the use of another person’s work, idea, or text without proper citation.
The main forms of plagiarism are:

  • Direct plagiarism – Copying another person’s text word-for-word without indicating the source.
  • Paraphrased plagiarism – Presenting another person’s text with small changes of words or style, without proper citation.
  • Mosaic plagiarism – Combining fragments taken from different sources in such a way as if it were the author’s original text.
  • Self-plagiarism – Reusing by the author of his/her previously published text or result without citation.
  • Careless plagiarism – Inaccurate or insufficient indication of a source, which may lead to misleading.
  • Fabricated sources – Indicating a non-existent or inappropriate source.
  • Data falsification – Deliberate falsification of data, diagrams, tables, or quotations.

Stages of Plagiarism Screening

All received articles undergo the following kinds of screening:

  1. Technical screening – Compliance of the article’s format and structure with the journal’s requirements.
  2. Originality screening – The manuscript is checked with the international plagiarism detection system (Turnitin).
  3. Double-blind peer review – Reviewers evaluate the scientific value, originality, and comparison with already published works.

 

Response and Sanctions

In case of the establishment of plagiarism, the editorial board makes one of the following decisions depending on the severity of the violation:

  • Minor violation – An official warning is sent to the author and a correction is requested.
  • Moderate violation – Rejection of the article before publication.
  • Serious violation – Retraction of an already published article (Retraction Notice).
  • Severe violation – Prohibition for the author to publish for up to 3 years or permanently.

If necessary, the editorial board informs the author’s academic institution or funding organization about the violation.

 

Reporting a Violation

Any person may inform the editorial office about suspected plagiarism. The notification must include:

  • The title of the article and the name of the author;
  • The description and justification of the violation;
  • Supporting sources or links.

The editorial office is obliged to review the notification within 30 calendar days from its receipt and send a substantiated response to the complainant.

 

Data Protection Policy

The journal Archaeology protects the personal data of authors and reviewers. The data is processed transparently, securely, and only for academic and editorial purposes.
All personal information is processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union and the legislation of Georgia.