Mankind's fascination with the sky has been a strong and often dominant element in human life and culture. The Fifth Oxford Conference explored this fascination among those cultures that can be best (or only) studied within the disciplines of archaeology and anthropology. Archaeoastronomy adds an extra dimension to these other disciplines and helps create a richer and more complete view of the past.
The papers in this volume are based on those presented at Oxford V and reflect the important interactions among the participants. One group looks at general questions in sociology or astronomy and provides parts of a framework on which the other papers can rest. The remainder of the papers deal with the specific studies in all parts of the world.
