Once established, island communities may evolve along very different lines from their parent societies. Some become centres for large scale interaction with the world beyond, such as the civilisations of Crete and Cyprus; whilst for others like Malta or Easter Island, isolation gives rise to unique and often elaborate cultural expressions.

Islands in Time is a valuable exploration of these differences over a period from the end of the last Ice Age in around 10,000 BC through to the emergence of classical civilisation. It offers a thematic analysis of issues such as colonisation, island ecosystems and networks of interaction.

Mark Patton's theoretical approach to this discipline means that this volume will be of relevance to all archaeologists and anthropologists interested in the fundamental question of the relationship between human societies and their environment.