The growth and impact of global open-access publications in digital archaeology: insights from OpenAlex

Purpose This study aims to explore the landscape of open-access (OA) publications in digital archaeology, using OpenAlex’s extensive database to assess trends, distribution and impact. It aims to highlight the transformative potential of OA in enhancing the visibility, accessibility and impact of archaeological research. Design/methodology/approach The study compiles and analyzes 13,631 scholarly outputs from the OpenAlex API, focusing on OA contributions from 2014–2023. Data cleaning and verification were performed using OpenRefine, followed by statistical analysis in MS Excel. The study examines year-wise OA availability (green, gold, hybrid, bronze), document type distribution, OA license patterns, leading journals, publishers, authorship patterns, primary document locations and citation patterns. Findings The analysis reveals a significant increase in OA publications in digital archaeology, with gold OA being the predominant type. The percentage of OA publications grew from 23.24% in 2014 to 88.11% in 2023. The study highlights the dominance of data sets in OA contributions and the prevalent use of Creative Commons licenses, particularly CC-BY-NC. The leading journals and publishers in digital archaeology show varied OA strategies, with Springer Nature and Elsevier BV being the most prolific. Single-author papers dominate the OA landscape, but multi-author papers receive more citations. Repositories are the primary location for OA documents, and OA publications generally receive more citations than closed-access ones. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to data from OpenAlex, the specified period and the field of digital archaeology, which may not represent other disciplines. Future research could expand to other fields, incorporate additional data sources and consider longer timeframes to provide a more comprehensive view. Practical implications The findings highlight the importance of supporting diverse OA models to enhance the accessibility and dissemination of scholarly work in digital archaeology. They provide valuable insights for researchers, institutions and policymakers to make informed decisions regarding publication strategies and collaborations. Originality/value The study provides a comprehensive analysis of OA publications in digital archaeology using OpenAlex’s capabilities. It highlights the transformative potential of OA in shaping the future of archaeological research and discourse, emphasizing its role in promoting equitable access to knowledge and accelerating scientific discovery.