“One, none, and a hundred thousand” - Settlements and Identities in the Mediterranean Islands. Shima 4(1): 2010 By Helen Dawson

https://www.academia.edu/237272/_One_none_and_a_hundred_thousand_Settlements_and_Identities_in_the_Mediterranean_Islands_Shima_4_1_2010?email_work_card=title&li=0 This paper offers an exploration into the relations between island settlement, identity, and sense of place in the prehistoric Mediterranean. It uses modern examples and archaeological case studies to discuss the effects of colonisation and abandonment on cultural identity and the creation of distinctive identities as a form of cultural endurance. Abandonment had a homogenising effect on prehistoric cultures, as the resulting movement of people encouraged cultural exchange. At the same time, however, certain traits were maintained, reflecting people’s sense of place and community affiliation. This homogeneity therefore is only superficial, masking different layers of identity constructed through cultural interaction. Time and space are critical factors in the creation of different cultural identities, which are not fixed but in continuous transformation.