This paper provides the most comprehensive assessment yet of publication trends in the South African Archaeological Bulletin and discusses them with respect to archaeology’s broader history in southern Africa. Peer-reviewed articles published in the Bulletin over the four decades from 1980 to 2019 are analysed with respect to both authorship (by gender, ‘race’, geographical location, and institutional affiliation) and content (primary research theme and culture-historical association). While the representation of women has increased significantly, that of South African authors of African, coloured, and Indian descent, though improving, still falls far short of the country’s demographic reality. Notable changes are evident in the last two decades with respect to increased publications by authors based outside Africa and those operating out of universities (as opposed to museums) in both South and southern Africa. Overall, proportions of publications discussing work in South Africa compared to the rest of the region or other parts of Africa have changed little, but significant imbalances exist between South Africa’s provinces. Thematically, papers addressing heritage management and the archaeological records of the Earlier and Middle Stone Ages show particularly marked increases since 2000 compared to preceding decades.
