The archaeological discourse on the spread of the Neolithic way of life has experienced several paradigm shifts during the last three decades. This chapter attempts to classify different past and recent approaches to describe or even explain that major transformation. A review of Neolithization models suggested for central Europe during the last five decades illustrates changing assumptions and schools of archaeological research. While the more recent regional models tend to integrate elements of demic diffusion as well as indigenous adaptation, some recent general and global models focus on external and internal causes for the Neolithic transformation in a rather deterministic way. While the classical “wave of advance” model (Ammermann and Cavalli-Sforza) can be regarded as characteristic for the broad generalizations of processual archaeology, enhanced spatial and temporal resolution revealed a rather discontinuous and nonlinear process of spread (“modèle arythmique” of Jean Guilaine). It is argued that these “stagnation phases” in the spread of the Neolithic from the Near East throughout Europe, despite having a similar structure, might reflect different regional variants in the Neolithic transformation. In conclusion it will be suggested that “Neolithization” actually comprises quite different processes with specific regional scope and time scale, involving both change and its avoidance.

We explore the inherently racialized premises of colonial–national modernity and of imperial and national archaeologies, juxtaposing them with the contradictions and fluidity inherent in “Greek” and “Israeli” identities. This is followed by a brief critique of the reductionist, and often self-serving, roll-out of ancient DNA studies and of their political co-optation.