Why I Chose Zenodo: Open Access, Methodological Responsibility, and Archaeological Research

In recent years, the way archaeological research is disseminated has changed significantly. Alongside traditional journals, open-access platforms have become increasingly important spaces for methodological discussion, preliminary results, and critical reflection. For my own work, I chose Zenodo as a primary platform for making research outputs publicly available.

This choice is not accidental. Much of my research deals with complex archaeological contexts - particularly monumental landscapes - where direct excavation is limited or impossible. In such cases, interpretation relies heavily on architectural analysis, contextual reasoning, and non-invasive data. These approaches require a high degree of methodological transparency, especially when interdisciplinary tools are involved.

Publishing on Zenodo allows me to present not only conclusions, but also assumptions, constraints, and limits. The aim is not to advance definitive claims, but to make reasoning processes visible and open to scrutiny. In archaeology, the quality of an argument often lies as much in what it excludes as in what it proposes.

Another important aspect is accessibility. By publishing open access, the work becomes available not only to academic specialists but also to students, independent researchers, and professionals working in heritage management. This broader accessibility supports dialogue across disciplinary and institutional boundaries.

All publications are linked to my ORCID record, ensuring clear authorship attribution and continuity across different research topics. The use of persistent identifiers (DOIs) also guarantees citability and long-term traceability, which are essential components of responsible research dissemination.

Zenodo does not replace peer-reviewed journals, nor is it intended to do so. Instead, it functions as a complementary space where ideas can be refined, methods tested, and discussions initiated before - or alongside - more formal publication venues.

In this sense, the collection of works available on Zenodo represents an ongoing research trajectory rather than a series of isolated papers. Each contribution builds on the previous ones, gradually refining questions related to archaeological methodology, interpretation, and the limits of interdisciplinary models.

Open access is not an endpoint, but a starting point. Making research visible is a way of inviting critique, comparison, and improvement - essential elements of any serious scholarly practice.

📚 All open-access publications are available here:

https://zenodo.org/search?q=Armando%20Mei