Maritimity in stone : an archaeology of early modern and modern ship graffiti in the Maltese islands (ca. 1530-1945)

Abstract

Ship graffiti in Malta can be understood as an archaeological manifestation of a Mediterranean island’s maritime identity. The profusion and distribution of graffiti must be contextualized within local histories, naval powers, and maritime industry, and the ways these shaped the demographic and religious landscapes in the early modern period. Ship graffiti has the capacity to fill gaps in scholarship as well as raise important historical and archaeological questions. Technological advancements continue to revolutionize the documentation, study, and communication of graffiti sites. Systematic methodologies demonstrate the value of interpreting ship graffiti through an archaeological lens.