'[A]n important and original essay that tackles the nature and methods of archaeological inference in a fundamental way. [O]ne of the most noteworthy theoretical writings in archaeology in recent years, and, unlike most of the others, it is also delightfully readable.' (K. C. Chang, American Scientist) '[Schiffer’s] first grand treatise dealing with the interrelationships between laws, cultural and natural formation processes, and their applications for indirect observation of past cultural systems.' (Albert C. Goodyear, American Antiquity) '[O]ne of the most important treatments of archaeological methodology. Although it will undoubtedly be a controversial book, even those who do not accept the Schifferian approach will find some imaginative, well-formulated methods that can be used to obtain information about the past.' (Stephen Plog, American Anthropologist)