“Here Be Dragons”: Historical and Contemporary Archaeology and Heritage in the Aegean Sea

Abstract

Postmedieval, modern, and contemporary remains are ubiquitous, yet their study and curatorship are uncommon in the Aegean geographic context. In this article I discuss the materiality of these uncared-for ruins, drawing from rural and urban remains in the Aegean, contrasted with other littoral sites in the Mediterranean. I focus on their social and cultural impact and their role in contemporary communities, along with the state provisions organized to protect and manage them in Greece and Turkey. I propose a present and socially engaged archaeological praxis and emphasize the need for historical/contemporary archaeology to be more politically involved, raising awareness and broadening the representation of marginalized communities.