This course serves as an introductory survey to the history, present course, and future of archaeological method and theory. Archaeology’s access to the deep past allows us unparalleled insight into the origins of enduring human institutions such as urbanism, agriculture, and religion. Yet the step from analyzing a broken pot found at an archaeological site to reconstructing a past society is vast and requires a self-conscious reflection on the theory and method involved in interpretation. Since its inception as a discipline, archaeology has been faced with existential questions about its status—it is considered by some to be a hard science, others a soft or social science, and some not a science at all. Critics have complained that archaeology has done little to develop a distinctive theoretical framework but instead borrows from other related disciplines. Should this eclecticism be embraced, or should archaeology develop a sui generis interpretative model? Equally important is the practical way that archaeology is carried out in the field. And while archaeology can rightfully claim innovations in this area, the discipline is still far from a consensus. Finally, archaeology also faces serious challenges on two fronts: first, increasing calls for an ethical reckoning that addresses the harms caused by colonial ventures, and the creation of a more just and equitable field; the second is the growing prevalence of “alternative archaeologies” that question long-established views within the discipline. How can archaeology best respond to these challenges, both from within and without?