This book investigates the efficacy of applying archaeological methodologies to the study of contemporary homelessness and the lived experiences of marginalized urban populations. Rachael Kiddey, an archaeologist with a focus on collaborative heritage, utilizes fieldwork conducted in Bristol and York to bridge the gap between traditional material culture studies and modern social issues. By engaging homeless individuals as co-researchers, the author argues that archaeological practice can provide a unique, material-based perspective on the historical and spatial realities of homelessness in the twenty-first century.

Scholars in the field of contemporary archaeology recognize this work as a significant contribution to the development of participatory research methods. Readers frequently note that the text successfully balances academic theory with the practical, human-centered outcomes of the collaborative projects described.