cultural memories are social constructions of the past which allow human beings both personally and collectively to orient themselves in time and space. the essays included in this book focus on the role of spatiality and places for cultural memories. renowned scholars in anthropology, egyptology, geography, history, political science, and psychology offer new insights to the formation and development of cultural memories in ancient and modern societies. the first part of the book concentrates on theoretical considerations how cultural memories should be conceptualised. the second part consists of three case studies to apply these concepts to three very different contexts: the founding myth of a nation, contested memories in connection with a civil war, and oral traditions not referring to a national narrative. the third part focuses on the question of an emerging, distinct european cultural memory, its variances and especially the role of world war ii for its origination. the forth part studies cultural memories in post-colonial contexts outside europe. finally, the fifth part offers insides on cultural memories in tribal, nomadic societies before or on the edge of neolithic revolution.