Contemporary social archaeology focuses on how diverse past human experiences were mediated by material culture and how contemporary practices and communications shape material culture. It actively engages with issues of postcolonialism, community heritage, and indigenous rights. This authoritative volume, authored by the current and past presidents of the World Archaeological Congress, introduces the readers to the various theoretical and methodological frameworks available for the investigation of the past with their implications for contemporary societies. The authors-provide a comprehensive description of theories about the past and how they are entangled in present practices;-highlight the voices and concerns of Indigenous people;-project alternative futures for the archaeological discipline as a global enterprise.