The diffusion of innovations from the Near East into the 'static' surrounding peripheries has
become a well-known archaeological paradigm often summed up as Ex Oriente Lux. While this
conflicts with modern scientifically controlled chronologies it is difficult to explain as
mere local developments and pure chance the appearance of large-scale communication networks
the transformation of power concentrations in the first states or the diffusion of the wheel
alloyed metals and writing. The papers in this volume follow two approaches to convene on new
insights into the prehistoric and ancient innovation process. Theoretical perspectives attempt
to challenge and modify traditional models of innovation diffusion that lack the chronological
depth of archaeological sources while case studies from the Copper Bronze and Iron Ages of
Europe southwest Asia and North Africa analyze the specific archaeological and sociopolitical
contexts the technological traditions of innovations and the specifications of their
emergence spread and improvements.
