Coffee in Early Modern Malta

Nathaniel Cutajar is Curator for Medieval Archaeology at the National Museum of Archaeology. He has previously worked with the Museums Department and with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. He graduated with a BA in History and Archaeology from the University of Malta and also holds an MA in Archaeological Heritage Management from the University of York (UK). His current research interests and publications are mostly focused on material cultural studies of the medieval and post-medieval

 

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Sponsored by the Alfred Mizzi Foundation. Recent historical work has increasingly engaged in the introduction of new dietary habits into post-medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. Local historical work has highlighted in particular the importance coffee played in the development of Maltese social customs, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries. This lecture illustrates the contribution archaeology can bring to this growing discussion – what may be termed as ‘an archaeology of coffee drinking’. It also aims to make a specific methodological point, highlighting the separate but complementary nature of historical and archaeological interpretation.

 

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