DOI & Citation Policy

Dataset versioning

IsoArcH supports dataset versioning to ensure the transparency and traceability of research. Each dataset can evolve over time, and every change is recorded through a system of versioning. Major versions are assigned when significant changes occur, such as the addition of new samples or isotopic measurements or important changes in the dataset. Minor versions, are used for smaller updates such as corrections, or alignment with an updated data schema.

IsoArcH and DOIs

IsoArcH assigns a persistent identifier, or a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), free of charge to every dataset uploaded to its database. This ensures long-term accessibility and citability of the dataset, in full alignment with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.

IsoArcH publishes all its DOIs via DataCite. Each DOI is registered with carefully curated metadata, ensuring datasets are easily findable and well described. All publications cited within the dataset are included as relatedIdentifiers, linking the dataset transparently to the research it builds upon. This enhances data traceability and promotes the proper acknowledgment of the original sources.

Each dataset receives a root DOI, which acts as the main reference entry for the dataset as a whole. In addition, a dedicated DOI is created for each major version of the dataset. These versioned DOIs are linked to the root DOI, creating a transparent versioning system that preserves the integrity of the dataset’s history. A new minor version does not result in a new DOI but is still fully documented on the dataset’s webpage..

We encourage you to cite the DOI of the specific dataset version used in your research publication, research outcomes (publications, presentations, etc.), especially when only a specific version of a dataset is relevant to your analysis.

Citing the dataset enhances the dataset's visibility and impact, as such citations are tracked by multiple metrics platforms. Where datasets include already published data, they should always cite the original works (including research articles or other datasets). This will ensure that everyone receives appropriate credit for the work of making their data available in an open manner.

Minimum requirements for dataset submission

For compiled datasets, the content must include data from at least two independent studies conducted by different research teams or laboratories. This requirement does not apply if the dataset is based on data produced or published by the submitters themselves.

Data originating from Bachelor, Master or PhD theses, whether publicly available or not, must be excluded if the work is less than five years old, unless the dataset is submitted directly by the thesis author or their supervisor.

How to cite a dataset?

Any scientific publications and presentations using any of the databases and maps from IsoArcH should cite the following source:

1. Salesse, K., Fernandes R., de Rochefort X., Brůžek J., Castex D., Dufour É., (2018). isoarch.org: An open-access and collaborative isotope database for bioarcheological samples from Graeco-Roman World and its margins, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 19: 1050-1055.
2. Salesse, K., Fernandes R., de Rochefort X., Brůžek J., Castex D., Dufour É., (2020). isoarch.org (v.1.1), accessed mm/dd/yyyy.
3. All references used to generate the result files after querying the IsoArcH database have to be also cited individually.