This book investigates how archaeological methodologies can be applied to the study of late modern societies to better understand the material culture of the recent past. Authors John Schofield and Rodney Harrison, both established scholars in contemporary archaeology, argue that the discipline should extend its reach beyond ancient history to include the second half of the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century. By synthesizing existing literature and presenting new case studies, they propose a framework for analyzing the material remnants of de-industrialized societies, the Cold War, and the digital age.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for the field of contemporary archaeology, noting its success in bridging the gap between traditional archaeology and modern material culture studies. Readers frequently highlight the academic rigor of the prose and the clarity with which the authors define the scope of this emerging sub-discipline.