The Cambridge and Bradford Boeotia expedition, which began systematic work in 1979 following a reconnaissance in the previous summer, constitutes an attempt to provide a framework for understanding the development of the society and the culture of the area from prehistoric to modern times. It is anticipated that the survey will take some ten years, with work by specialists in history, palynology, the history of vegetation, statistics, artifact analysis, and so on, all of which will supplement an archaeological surface survey. What follows is an initial report on the findings of the social-anthropological work carried out during short summer field-trips in the first five years.