"The perspectives represented are broad and refreshing, accessible to a non-specialist, but authoritative ... This volume is very well suited as a teaching text for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students. However, I recommend it for any practioner having an interest in the recent trends and advances that are affecting what archaeology is and will be."  (Historical Archaeology)

"For those in search of a single volume that provides a series of state of the art portrayals of the diverse approaches dopted by archeologists in their endeavour to explore and understand the past, look no further." (Post-Medieval Archaeology)

"One of the best introductions to modern archaeology in all her guises that I have ever read"  (H-Net Reviews in the Humanities and Social Sciences)

"This is a large book, and as promised in the introduction it delivers in a sophisticated way emerging insights on a broad range of key archaeological themes ... I can strongly recommend this volume to the professional and student alike." (Australian Archaeology)

"This book is clearly organized and the material presented in a fair and often innovative manner."  (Bryn Mawr Classical Review)

"This important book offers a thought-provoking analysis of many of archaeology’s most pressing controversies. Both students and interested laypeople will find this a satisfying journey though the complexities of a rapidly changing, increasingly multidisciplinary archaeological world."  (Brian Fagan, University of California Santa Barbara)

"A refreshingly wide set of topics, covered by an impressive and authoritative array of authors."  (Ian Hodder, Stanford University)