"This textbook surveys the techniques, methods, and theoretical frameworks of contemporary prehistoric archaeology. In our presentation we view prehistoric archaeology as an integral part of the larger field of anthropology, conditioned by the historical development, concepts and goals of its parent discipline. While we treat the evolving perspectives of archaeological method and theory, together with their implications for understanding the prehistoric past, the text is not a manifesto for any single doctrine or 'school' within the field. Rather, it seeks to synthesize those aspects of both the 'traditional' and the 'new' archaeology that have contributed significantly to the current status of prehistoric archaeology."--p. ix.