Theoretical physics and theoretical biology have been developing for a long time, theoretical archeology - more recently. The author of the book is recognized in the world as one of the creators of this branch of science. The book was born on the basis of a course of lectures given by the author at Leningrad-Petersburg University, as well as in Cambridge, Durham, Berlin, Vienna, Copenhagen, Washington and other universities around the world. This is the first textbook in Russia and one of the first in the world on theoretical archeology , is designed for students and teachers (equipped with visual diagrams, lists of questions for thinking through, bibliography, indexes), and since there are extremely few generalizing books on theoretical archeology, it will turn out to be a reference guide on this topic for all archaeological researchers. The book will also be of interest to representatives of related sciences - historians, sociologists, geographers, scientists, philosophers, etc.