Mapping the Geography of Ethnoarchaeology: Research Locations, Institutional Hubs, and Collaboration Networks

This study examines the geography of ethnoarchaeological research as represented in indexed scholarly publications through a bibliometric analysis of works containing the term “ethnoarchaeology” in their title, abstract, or keywords between 1977 and 2026. Based on a dataset of 747 publications identified in Scopus, the study combines spatial mapping with analyses of author affiliations and collaboration patterns to explore where ethnoarchaeological research is conducted and where it is institutionally produced. The results show a progressive expansion of research locations from an initially limited set of regions to a more widely distributed pattern. At the same time, affiliation networks reveal persistent asymmetries between the geography of fieldwork and that of knowledge production, with many studies conducted in Africa, Asia, and Latin America linked to institutions in North America and Europe. These findings highlight both the continued vitality of ethnoarchaeology and the role of scholarly communication structures in shaping its development.