A book is an edited volume with eight authors contributing nine chapters in total, each covering different aspects of the subject. It is the culmination of extensive research endeavours into the Early Medieval archaeology of the Eastern Alps, synthesising the collaborative efforts of four research projects with scholars from two countries over several years.

The focus is on an area on the eastern fringes of the Alps, which lies in present-day Slovenia and parts of Austria. The three micro-regional studies are located near Bled (Slovenia), in the Drava Plain (Slovenia) and in the Leibnitzer Feld (Austria). The case study chapters focus on Upper Styria, also known as Austrian Styria.

Thematically, the book is divided into three parts. While the length of individual chapters varies, the three parts are as balanced as possible given the subject matter.

The first part consists of a relevant methodological introduction followed by three microregional studies and a chapter that looks for common features of these studies and builds on the results.

The second part consists of an extensive contribution by a single author who analyses the Eastern Alps as an archaeological region, again with the methodological introduction.

The third part presents an extremely detailed analysis of Austrian Styria in Late Antiquity and Early Medieval period.

We are confident that the content of the book promises to be an indispensable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike, offering fresh perspectives on the Early Medieval period through a blend of archaeological evidence and environmental analysis.