Few national bodies carrying out archaeology ever attempt to synthesise their work which is a shame if this book is in any way typical of this type of approach. Published by the Excavations Department at the Swedish National Heritage Board, this book represents a synthesis of up-to-date research and re-evaluation of studies focusing on the Stone Age in Scania. Beyond its reconstruction of the cultural history of this period, it also addresses many issues concerned with the methodology of contract archaeology and how it differs from university-based research. Covering a long period from the first settlers in Scania c.12,000 BP to the end of the Middle Neolithic c.4300 BP, each chapter is written by a different author(s) and contains lots of photographs, drawings and maps. A well written and well presented study which makes you look forward to the next volume on the Bronze Age.