Recent years’ development in archaeometry has led to the writing of new narratives about Neolithization processes all over the world. Different forms of DNA and isotope analyses have attained importance as study material for interpretations of people’s patterns of movement and interaction. Often, however, the results of these studies are presented in the framework of a non-problematized and non-theoretical interpretation of cultural encounters. This text proceeds from modern plurality studies. Five models for understanding cultural encounters are discussed. The idea is that ways of thinking about present-day cultural encounters can inspire critical thinking about prehistoric cultural encounters.