The chapters in this book focus on methods and theories used to systematically test hypotheses about prehistoric social organization. The concern with social organization reflects a larger trend in archaeology that stresses the recovery and use of pertinent data for testing ideas and assumptions. As a result, the view that nonobservable phenomena such as social organization cannot be recovered from an archaeological site-as in, our only data on ancient social organization must come from modern peoples-has been overturned. A rigorous scientific approach, along with sophisticated analytical tools, makes possible whole new areas of inquiry into past cultures.