Hans-Peter Uerpmann&;s contributions to zooarchaeology, Near Eastern, and Arabian archaeology have helped to shape the development of these fields. In many respects his achievements in research and teaching have defined the methods and goals of zooarchaeology and Arabian archaeology.

This volume in honor of Hans-Peter Uerpmann includes fourteen papers presented by international scholars at a conference entitled Archaeology and Human Ecology in Southwestern Asia. This festive meeting took place in the Fürstenzimmer of Schloss Hohentübingen on October 31 and November 1, 2006, and was carefully planned to correspond to Hans-Peter&;s 65th birthday.

The papers included in this edited volume touch on many issues related to Hans-Peter&;s research in southwestern Asia, which often took place in the inhabitable region between desert sands and the sea. In keeping with his life&;s work, we hope that the volume attracts readers from zooarchaeology and archaeology as a whole.