In the wake of the protracted struggle for philosophical dominance between processual and postprocessual points of view, a new generation of archaeologists are attempting to move the discipline forward, albeit while facing a veritable minefield of damaged egos and gatekeeping. Successful attempts often combine limited theoretical expectations, tempered by postmodern critique, with tacit acceptance of the need for sound research design and rigorous data collection schemes. In short, archaeology is becoming more humble, as researchers are content to carry out the important business of “normal science” rather than constantly striving to be at the forefront of yet another self-promoting “paradigm shift.” This volume fits well within this trend and rewards the reader with a set of sincere and thoughtful essays regarding advancements in understanding settlement strategies.

The introductory chapter provides an excellent orientation to the background and basic tenets of settlement ecology. Philosophically, it is informed by approaches as diverse as catchment analysis, central place theory, and landscape archaeology, but the focus is on examining the decision-making processes of communities in light of these various inputs. Accordingly, Jones and Kellett suggest that settlement ecology is “best understood as a conceptual and methodological approach, which is more comprehensive, robust, and powerful for archaeological interpretation” (p. 11). It is a testament to the editors that the majority of the individual contributions to the volume adhere to this framework, with the result providing an in-depth dialogue allowing the reader to assess the merits of the settlement ecology approach. That being said, there were times when I felt that individual chapters were merely traditional settlement pattern studies draped in the rhetoric of the settlement ecology approach. Even with that caveat, however, all of the contributions have considerable scholarly merit, as the data, methodologies, and results of analysis are presented in a clear and thoughtful manner. Additionally, figures and tables are well positioned and generally support or make clear the concepts presented in the text.

Not surprisingly, the approach espoused in the introduction is best exemplified by the editors’ contributions. For his part, Jones promotes geographic information systems as a powerful platform for integrating and overlaying data from geologic, geophysical, and pedestrian survey, as well as historical records and landscape analysis, to examine various decision-making parameters of late prehistoric communities in the southeastern United States. I found his presentation to be thorough, clearly expressed, and thought-provoking. Complementing this methodological focus, Kellett provides a compelling account of the conceptual framework of settlement ecology by correlating risk factors with settlement choices among Chanka communities in the Andes. This chapter is very well organized, and I particularly enjoyed the discussion of how expectations were established and evaluated with available data.

Two additional essays worth highlighting are Loughlin's and de Almeida's, as they demonstrate the broad spectrum of questions that can be addressed through a settlement ecology lens. Loughlin's is notable for the comprehensive approach with which he examines both settlement patterns and built environments to address the role of political and economic strategies in settlement decisions in the El Mesón region of Vera Cruz. For his part, de Almeida incorporates historic and ethnographic evidence to assess various assumptions of settlement strategies in tropical rain forests. As my knowledge of this region comes mostly from the ethnographic works of Lévi-Strauss and Chagnon, I was fascinated by the contributions made via archaeological research in this region.

As the title indicates, the volume contains 11 chapters that are focused on examining settlement exclusively in the Americas. While there is significant temporal and spatial range within that boundary (e.g., ethnographic, historic, and prehistoric patterns examined from the Amazon Basin to the southeastern United States), it is somewhat disappointing to see a methodologically focused volume also limited in geographic scope. My biggest criticism, however, concerns the organization of the essays by region, which does not appear to serve any purpose other than separating the book into arbitrary sections. Is settlement ecology practiced differently among Andean specialists as opposed to Mesoamericanists? I think that readers would be better served if the book were organized more thematically or by types of data encountered.

Whether or not settlement ecology persists within the discipline of archaeology, this volume will likely stand as an important reference for future archaeologists. This is not due to the introduction of any “transformative” concept or technological tool but, rather, to its focus on rigorous scientific analysis unhindered by clever rhetoric or snarky condemnation of opposing philosophical viewpoints. It is refreshing to read a scholarly book that promotes the advancement of knowledge rather than a particular brand.