Instructions for Contributors (562 KB).

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Style guidelines for the journal Iraq

Citations in text and footnotes

(Author Date: Page), e.g., (Smith 2000: 134–73). If mentioning name in text, e.g. “According to Smith (2000: 98)”. Lists of in-text citations should be in alphabetical order separated by semi-colons, e.g., (Bahrani 2017; Feldman 1998; Winter 2012). Use et al. for more than two co-authors (but list all authors in bibliography).

Number ranges

Numbers separated by an en-dash.

E.g. 1–99; 225–236; 140–201.

Where volumes or series need to be indicated use a comma, e.g. (Jones 1995: I, 33–45.)

In the main text of your article numbers under 100 should be spelled out, except in overtly statistical contexts.

Common abbreviations

Fig. 5 (capitalised) = for a figure in the article itself

fig. 12 = figures in other publications

pl. 1 = plate (Roman numerals are fine if this is the format of the publication cited)

no. 1 = number, e.g. catalogue number

n. = footnote or endnote

f. /ff. = and following page/pages (though we prefer a page range)

mm, cm, m, km = millimetres, centimetres, metres, kilometres (we prefer these spelled out in full in the main text, abbreviated in footnotes, tables, etc.)

% = per cent (again, we prefer this to be spelled out except in overtly statistical contexts)

In abbreviations consisting entirely of capitals we do not usually use full stops: BISI not B.I.S.I., UET not U.E.T. The most common exception to this rule is B.C., which in Iraq traditionally uses full stops and small capitals (similarly B.P., B.C.E., A.D., A.H. and C.E.). We normally use B.C./A.D., but authors are welcome to use B.C.E./C.E. if they prefer.

We generally avoid op. cit., loc. cit. etc., but ibid. (used only for the immediately preceding reference, i.e. not for a citation of the same publication earlier in your article), and cf. are fine. Note that these and the very common abbreviations e.g., i.e. and etc. are kept in roman type, while sic., et al. (in a citation; all authors should be listed in the bibliography) and passim should be italicised.

Quotation marks

Normally double (“ ”). For a quote within a quote use single quotes (‘ ’) within the double quotes of the main quote.

Bibliography

In general, we ask that you avoid abbreviating journal and series titles (so Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, not ZA). Otherwise abbreviations should match those current in The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (CAD). Give the author’s name each time it appears in the list (do not use ———).

Book:

Russell, J. M. 1991. Sennacherib’s Palace Without Rival at Nineveh. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

Edited book:

Dittmann, R., C. Eder and B. Jacobs, eds. 2003. Altertumswissenschaften im Dialog. Festschrift für Wolfram Nagel zur Vollendung seines 80. Lebensjahres. Alter Orient und Altes Testament 306. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag.

Book chapter:

Charpin, D. 1990. “Les édits de ‘restauration’ des rois babyloniens et leur application” in Cl. Nicolet, ed. Du pouvoir dans l’antiquité: mots et réalités. Geneva: Librairie Droz, pp. 13–24.

Journal article:

Winter, I. J. 1992. “Idols of the King: Royal Images as Recipients of Ritual Action in Ancient Mesopotamia”. Journal of Ritual Studies 6 (1): 13–42.

Publications in Arabic and other non-roman scripts:

Janabi, K. A. 1961. روزرھش†يف†ولماش†لت†تایرفح (The excavations at Tell Shamlu in Shahrizur). Sumer 17:174-193.

NB—We will accept original script or transcription for titles, but prefer that this is done consistently within the bibliography, i.e. that either original script or transcription is used for all publications in a given script.

Figure formats

To ensure that your figures are reproduced to the highest possible standards, Cambridge Journals recommends the following formats and resolutions for supplying electronic figures.

Please ensure that your figures are saved as Tiffs and at the final publication size and resolution. The maximum dimensions of an image in Iraq are: 14.7 cm wide x 21.4 cm high. Please keep this in mind if you wish to have your figures reproduced at a standard scale, e.g., 1:1 or 1:20. If your figures should be at a standard scale, please set this up yourself and indicate in your cover letter that you have done so. When you save as Tiffs you should get the option of Image Compression. If so please select the LZW option. This should substantially reduce the size of the file and make it easier to upload. Following these guidelines will result in high quality images being reproduced in both the print and the online versions of the journal.

Please note that it is the author’s responsibility to secure permissions to reproduce any images or other illustrations used. If the copyright or license for an image is held by anyone other than the author(s), please indicate this in the relevant caption.

Line artwork

Format: TIFF

Colour mode: black and white (also known as 1-bit)

Resolution: 800-1200 dpi at final size

Combination artwork (line/tone)

Format: TIFF

Colour mode: grayscale (also known as 8-bit)

Resolution: 600 dpi at final size

Black and white halftone artwork

Format: TIFF

Colour mode: grayscale (also known as 8-bit)

Resolution: 300 dpi at final size

Colour halftone artwork

Format: TIFF

Colour mode: CMYK colour

Resolution: 300 dpi at final size

Black and white print images may be reproduced in colour online if suitable images are supplied. Please check that any colour images are readable in black and white/greyscale, as the paper version will be greyscale only. For example, do not use very subtle shades of colour for different data groups in charts. Do not refer to colours in captions, e.g., “the findspot of the bowl is shown in red”; use arrows or similar to indicate such details.