Archaeological analysis operates on a continuum of scale from the microscopic analysis of a single artifact to regional interpretations of cultural adaptations over thousands of years. A common assumption is that shifting from one scale to another in space and time is a seamless process. Scale in this sense is invisible, a mere mathematical abstraction. Yet, issues of scale exist at the fundamental level of archaeological interpretation. The traditional analytical debate in archaeology between advocates of the so-called processual and postprocessual approaches ranges around the question of...

With subjects ranging from prehistoric artworks to excavation drawings, scientific illustrations, artists impressions of ancient sites and contemporary landscapes, this study explores how pictures and representations of the past shape our perceptions and our expectations of the past.