Snakes and Crocodiles: power and symbolism in ancient Zimbabwe was published by Witwatersrand University Press at the end of 1996 (ISBN 1-86814-254-X Available from Book Promotions, PO Box 5, Plumstead 7801, price R98.95). This book is important in a number of ways: it deals with Great Zimbabwe, the most famous archaeological site in southern Africa (and much else besides). It is the most ambitious attempt yet to understand the architecture of zimbabwe-type sites, and the wider social and cultural context in which they were constructed and occupied. It makes accessible to a general audience more than two decades of research and writing on an important period of southern African history. For all these reasons, Snakes and Crocodiles warrants more than an ordinary book review. Seven researchers with expertise in relevant areas of archaeology, anthropology and history have written reviews. These are followed by a response from Huffman, in which he addresses the reviewers' criticisms and concerns. This exchange highlights some of the difficulties of interpretation and explanation in archaeology; we hope it will stimulate readers' interest in the topic, and in reading the book for themselves.