Tracing the history of the discipline from its earliest manifestations through to the present and evaluating the contribution made by archaeology to the understanding of key aspects of Islamic culture, Milwright argues that it is essential for the results of archaeological research to be more fully integrated into the wider historical study of the Islamic world. The book is organised into broad themes, allowing a focus on issues that are relevant across different regions and periods. Short case studies are included so that the reader can examine the ways in which archaeologists collect and interpret material in specific contexts. The emphasis is on archaeological work conducted in the area stretching from Afghanistan and the Central Asian republics in the east to Spain in the west. Comparisons are also drawn with Islamic regions of sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent, reflecting the main focus of archaeological work in the Islamic world to the present day.