Book excerpt: Understanding of early farming societies in Greece has been revolutionized by major field projects, by the growing application of specialist 'scientific' studies, and by new approaches to interpretation. This volume reviews the most significant recent field research, ranging from regional survey, through large-scale excavation of an extensive open settlement, to the investigation of caves. Contributors critically evaluate or revise current ideas on the nature of these early societies at a range of scales from the individual to the region.