This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the archaeology of Mediterranean prehistory and an essential reference to the most recent research and fieldwork. * Only book available to offer general coverage of Mediterranean prehistory * Written by 14 of the leading archaeologists in the field * Spans the Neolithic through the Iron Age, and draws from all the major regions of the Mediterraneana s coast and islands * Presents the central debates in Mediterranean prehistory------trade and interaction, rural economies, ritual, social structure, gender, monumentality, insularity, archaeometallurgy and the metals trade, stone technologies, settlement, and maritime traffic------as well as contemporary legacies of the regiona s prehistoric past * Structure of text is pedagogically driven * Engages diverse theoretical approaches so students will see the benefits of multivocality