Peer Review Policy

HAD uses double-blind peer review. Authors do not receive the reviewers’ identities, and reviewers are not shown the authors’ identities during assessment.

Editorial screening

An editor first considers scope, the quality and provenance of the evidence, completeness, legal and ethical compliance, and the clarity of the research question. A manuscript may be declined before review when it lacks adequate context, depends on unprovenanced material or is not ready for specialist assessment.

External review

A suitable paper is normally sent to at least two reviewers. Reviewers assess the evidence, method, interpretation, documentation and awareness of relevant scholarship. They must keep the manuscript confidential and disclose any conflict.

Decision

The handling editor decides whether to accept, request revision, invite resubmission or reject. Authors who revise should answer the reports point by point. Reviewer recommendations are advisory; the final decision rests with the editor.