Archeologia e politica: riflessioni sul volume Malta and mediterranean prehistory di Andrea Pessina e Nicholas C. Vella e sull’edizione di Malta Antica di Luigi Maria Ugolini

The recent work by Andrea Pessina and Nicholas Vella comprises the critical edition of the three previously unpublished volumes of Malta Antica by Luigi Maria Ugolini, as well as the volume Malta and Mediterranean Prehistory, which examines the relationship between archaeology and politics during the interwar period. This work is distinguished by its in-depth historical contextualisation of “legacy data”, its high editorial quality, and its extensive use of graphic documentation. It offers a significant reflection on the history of archaeological research in Malta and the central Mediterranean over the past century, clearly highlighting the influence of politics and nationalist sentiment both on the planning of archaeological research and on the historical interpretation of the results. The edition curated by Pessina and Vella–published at a time of renewed interest in Mediterranean prehistory opens a vital debate on the ideological role of archaeology, the construction of national identities, and the nature of international scientific relations. From these volumes new insights into Ugolini’s scientific work and its relevance for the Maltese prehistoric archaeology emerge, beyond the constraints of his affiliation with the fascist regime.