Research and Publication Ethics

Ancient Pakistan is committed to the highest standards of research ethics, academic integrity and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal's ethical policies are guided by the regulations of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and are informed by internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and best practices in scholarly publishing. In addition, the journal also adheres to the Research Ethics Board (REB) policies of the University of Peshawar. Researchers conducting studies that require ethical approval are expected to obtain clearance from the University's Research Ethics Board using the prescribed application form available on the official University of Peshawar website. These institutional requirements further strengthen the journal's commitment to responsible research and internationally accepted ethical standards. Authors, reviewers, editors and editorial board members are expected to conduct themselves with honesty, fairness, transparency, confidentiality and professional responsibility throughout the publication process.

The journal has zero tolerance for plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, duplicate publication, misleading image manipulation, citation manipulation, and other forms of research misconduct. Allegations of unethical conduct are investigated fairly and confidentially and appr8.

Archaeological Research Ethics

As a journal devoted to archaeology and cultural heritage, Ancient Pakistan expects all  research to comply with all applicable laws, institutional regulations and professional standards. Research involving excavations, surveys, museum collections, heritage sites or cultural materials must have been conducted with the necessary permissions and approvals.

The journal is committed to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage and will not knowingly publish research based on illegally excavated, illicitly exported, or unprovenanced archaeological material where publication could encourage or legitimize the illicit trade in antiquities. Authors are expected to exercise due diligence in establishing the legal provenance of the material under study and to acknowledge any ethical or legal considerations relevant to their research. Exceptions may be considered only where the purpose of the research is to expose forgery, document the loss of archaeological context or address issues relating to the illicit antiquities trade.

Research should be carried out with respect for archaeological sites, cultural property, local communities and the values associated with cultural heritage. Authors are encouraged to present their findings accurately, preserve archaeological context and contribute to the responsible documentation, conservation and sustainable management of cultural heritage. By submitting an article to Ancient Pakistan, authors affirm that their research has been conducted ethically and in accordance with all applicable legal and professional requirements. Appropriate editorial action may be taken where necessary.