With characteristic rigor and thoroughness, R. Lee Lyman examines the shifting meanings of concepts archaeologists work with every day. Much more than a dictionary, this book examines the evolution of, and ongoing uncertainties about, the basic ideas that underpin our discipline.

Steven L. Kuhn, Riecker Distinguished Professor emeritus, School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, USA

This is a book that should be on every archaeologist's shelves. It provides a synthesis of the origins and contemporary uses of key archaeological terms. In doing so, the book challenges us to move beyond our often unexamined 'common sense' definitions.

Anna Marie Prentiss, Regents Professor of Anthropology, University of Montana, USA

In Fundamental Archaeological Concepts, Lyman offers an impressively clear, meticulously researched examination of the key terms that underpin archaeological thought and practice. The book goes back to basics – but it is far from basic. Drawing on decades of teaching and scholarship and with a strong focus on Anglo-American archaeology, Lyman traces the origins, definitions, and shifting meanings of concepts central to the discipline, providing both historical depth and analytical rigor. The result is an indispensable reference that will sharpen the interpretive tools of students and seasoned researchers alike. This book fills a surprisingly long-standing gap in the archaeological literature, and encourages more precise communication and deeper reflection on the very basal concepts we use to study the past.

Felix Riede, Professor of Archaeology, Aarhus University, Denmark