The First Mediterranean Islanders

The present volume provides a much needed contribution to island archaeology by examining the characteristics of the initial occupation of the Mediterranean islands. It enhances our understanding of the mechanisms, strategies, cultural contingencies and social alliances that enabled the consolidation of a permanent human presence in these settings. Particular attention is given to small islands, which can present increased demands on people to adapt and survive due to their more marginal environments, and on islands where recent research has led to a reassessment of the date and character of initial occupation. The research presented draws on examples from Cyprus, the Cyclades, the Adriatic, the Aeolian islands, and Malta, together with overviews of the Mediterranean and in comparison to Oceania. The volume throws into relief the multi-layered and multi-dimensional theatre provided by the Mediterranean, drawing attention to the complexities of island occupation. The notion of fluid group identities created through practice in the 'small worlds' of the Neolithic highlights the necessity for an emphasis on the process of occupation and consolidation of island inhabitation. This volume will provide new perspectives and challenges for island colonisation both in the Mediterranean and further afield, the Neolithic period, and the development of archaeological theory. Nellie Phoca-Cosmetatou is a lecturer at the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge.