Chapter 7 is an integrated case study showing how the full range of established and novel techniques have been integrated to understand the early farming economies of Central Europe, with particular focus on the LBK culture. This case study shows how such approaches are invaluable in understanding not only diet and subsistence, but also social issues of identity and inheritance.

Chapter 5 discusses how the study of ancient genetics has contributed specifically to our understanding economic issues through the sequencing of human, plant and animal DNA. It discusses the next generation sequencing and whole genome revolutions, the study of domestication events, migration and health, as well as some of the precautions needed to avoid pitfalls encountered in some earlier studies.

Chapter 3 deals with the stable isotope revolution and considers how isotopic approaches can best be integrated with more established forms of zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical evidence. This chapter also considers latest developments in this field and how they might further revolutionise our understanding.

Chapter 4 is about the organic residue analysis, both of lipids and proteins, concentrating particularly on the identification of foods and other substances absorbed into pottery vessels, but also considers dental calculus. The chapter considers the middle range theory behind reaching conclusions regarding diet from the reconstructing the past contents of a particular class of material culture.

Chapter 9 concludes by revisiting the key ideas of the palaeoeconomy school to evaluate their continued relevance and also discusses how to strike the best balance in theoretical approach between economic, environmental, social and cultural factors. The volume ends with a discussion of up and coming challenges and opportunities in the field.

Chapter 8 presents another integrated case study addressing the origins of domestic horses and pastoralism in Central Asia, focussing on modern day Kazakhstan during the Eneolithic and Bronze Age. As well as discussing issues of animal domestication it also considers questions of mobility and aspects of social zooarchaeology amongst pastoralists.

Chapter 2 addresses the divisive issue of ‘environmental determinism’ and provides a critical consideration of models and approaches such as site catchment analysis, behavioural ecology, carrying capacity and niche construction theory. It considers when determinism is and is not valid and how to use models as an effective framework in both economic and cultural contexts.

Chapter 6 deals with how the microscopic study of phytoliths starch grains has revolutionised our understanding of archaeobotany in (sub)tropical regions as well has how these techniques might add further to research in other environments.

Chapter 1 considers the origins and development of economic approaches to archaeology paying particular attention to the Cambridge ‘palaeoeconomy’ school of the 1960s and 70s. It draws out the key achievements and legacies of that time as well addressing post-processual criticism.