Book excerpt: Tools of the Trade: Methods, Techniques and Innovative Approaches in Archaeology presents a collection of academic papers from the 2005 Chacmool archaeological conference, which includes a wide range of contributions from international archaeologists, senior professors, and students alike. Each chapter focuses on the discussion and application of unique and innovative 'tools' for archaeological analysis and interpretation, including micro- and macro-botanical analysis, experimental study, off-site survey, lithic use-wear, ceramic petrography, DNA analysis, cha ne op ratoire, space syntax, and Geographic Information Systems. As a collective volume, Tools of the Trade: Methods, Techniques and Innovative Approaches in Archaeology also covers an impressive diversity of geographic regions and time periods, such as Precolumbian Mesoamerica, Plio-Pleistocene Africa, prehistoric and historic North America, and ancient Polynesia. Finally, this volume provides a somewhat introspective look at the origins of tool use, technological development, and the means by which we have become the only species to ask the questions: What does it mean to be us and how can we find out? With contributions by: Kristen Anderson Tobin C. Bottman Ryan T. Brady Susan Cachel Leslie G. Cecil Ruth Conroy Dalton Eugene M.Gryba Leslie Main Johnson Ciler Kirsan Purple Kumai E.G. Langemann Amber E. MacKenzie Go Matsumoto Maria Victoria Monsalve Jose Roberto Pellini Meaghan M. Peuramaki-Brown Jason W. Roe Michael J. Shott Nicholas Waber Joshua J. Wells Jayne Wilkins Pamela R. Willoughby D.Y. Yang Tobin C. Bottman Ryan T. Brady Susan Cachel Leslie G. Cecil Ruth Conroy Dalton Eugene M. Gryba Leslie Main Johnson Ciler Kirsan Purple Kumai E. Gwyn Langemann Amber E. MacKenzie Go Matsumoto Maria Victoria Monsalve Jose Roberto Pellini Meaghan M. Peuramaki-Brown Jason Roe Michael J. Shott Nicholas Waber Joshua J. Wells Pamela R. Willoughby Dongya Y. Yang