"In this book Timothy Darvill makes use of available archaeological evidence to examine the development of human societies in Britain from earliest times to the Roman Conquest. Darvill gives special attention to six themes that are traced through all phases of prehistory: subsistence, technology, ritual, trade, society, and population. Throughout, emphasis is given to documenting and explaining changes within these prehistoric communities, and to exploring the regional variations found around Britain. Darvill rounds off his study with a review of the effects of prehistoric communities on life today."