Books in the New Studies in Archaeology series

John Fox here offers a fresh and persuasive view of the crucial Classic-Postclassic transition that determined the shape of the later Maya state.

The development of European archaeology as a scholarly discipline in the nineteenth century was closely connected with the appearance of systematic methods for dating archaeological materials. Professor Graslund's book is the first in-depth study of what is now recognised as a crucial stage in the history of archaeology.

This book develops a theory of ceramics which elucidates the complex relationship between ceramics and culture and society. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of systems theory, cybernetics and cultural ecology, Dr Arnold develops cross-cultural generalizations to explain the origins and evolution of the craft of pottery making.

This study of the changing relationships between burial rituals and social structure in Early Iron Age Greece draws upon the ancient literary evidence and the relevant historical and anthropological comparisons to explain the transition to the city-state. It will be an invaluable resource for all archaeologists working with burial evidence, in whatever period.

Problems in Neolithic Archaeology is a notable contribution to the debate about how we can write prehistory. Drawing on both processual and post-processual approaches, it reaffirms the central role of theory and interpretation while accepting as permanent the uncertainty which makes the testing of archaeological hypotheses difficult or even impossible.

The particular fascination of Maya archaeology is featured alongside developments of more general interest in anthropological archaeology to make a substantial contribution to the practice and theory of settlement studies within complex societies.

Lynne Sebastian examines the transition of the Chaco system from a kinship structured society to a hierarchically organised political structure with institutional roles of leadership. She argues that the increasing political complexity was a consequence of improved rainfall in the region which permitted surplus production, not the harsh conditions as previously thought.

Using archaeological research in conjunction with historical records and works of art, Anne Yentsch has reconstructed the daily life of an aristocratic British family in Maryland.

In this revised and updated 1993 edition of a book first published in 1981, the authors synthesize recent research to provide a comprehensive survey of Mesoamerica, one of the most important areas for research into the emergence of complex human societies.

First published in 1982, this book presents the results of a series of field investigations carried out in Kenya, Zambia and the Sudan into the 'archaeological' remains and material culture of contemporary small-scale societies, and demonstrates the way in which objects are used as symbols within social action and within particular world views and ideologies.

Christopher Tilley integrates a wide range of evidence to recreate accessibly the lives of hunter-gatherers and farmers in Sweden and Denmark. His skilful fusion of archaeology and new anthropological approaches makes this book an original contribution to a widely debated topic.

This ethnoarchaeological study looks at contemporary household-scale ceramic production in several Mexican communities.