Shipwrecks as Memory – a case study from Malta by Prof. Timmy Gambin
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Join us for the public lecture ‘Shipwrecks as Memory – A case study from Malta’ by Prof. Timmy Gambin, on the 19th of November at Fort St Elmo from 7:00 pm onwards.
The world’s seas and oceans are replete with shipwrecks, the majority of which date to WWII. Maltese territorial waters are no exception, with both ships and submarines, but the islands’ seabed also contains a large concentration of aircraft from at least four nations.
Whether marked by a large loss of life or possibly no losses at all, each of these sites has a human dimension. Each person involved has a story, and each story must be considered through the variations brought about by oral transmission. A single wrecking event could have been witnessed by several survivors, as well as those who took part in their rescue. Moreover, one must keep in mind the narratives of relatives – both those who never returned and those who survived.
This lecture draws on experiences from Maltese waters, though choices had to be made about which examples to include. We will explore how historical events are informed by material remains and how these remains contribute to narratives for both the living and the dead. Moreover, the lecture will seek to understand what role, if any, shipwrecks play in the memorialisation of events and their human agents.
Tickets are available online at www.heritagemalta.mt/store and at all Heritage Malta museums and sites.
The world’s seas and oceans are replete with shipwrecks, the majority of which date to WWII. Maltese territorial waters are no exception, with both ships and submarines, but the islands’ seabed also contains a large concentration of aircraft from at least four nations.
Whether marked by a large loss of life or possibly no losses at all, each of these sites has a human dimension. Each person involved has a story, and each story must be considered through the variations brought about by oral transmission. A single wrecking event could have been witnessed by several survivors, as well as those who took part in their rescue. Moreover, one must keep in mind the narratives of relatives – both those who never returned and those who survived.
This lecture draws on experiences from Maltese waters, though choices had to be made about which examples to include. We will explore how historical events are informed by material remains and how these remains contribute to narratives for both the living and the dead. Moreover, the lecture will seek to understand what role, if any, shipwrecks play in the memorialisation of events and their human agents.
Tickets are available online at www.heritagemalta.mt/store and at all Heritage Malta museums and sites.
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Where is it happening?
Fort St Elmo & the National War Museum, Triq il-Mediterran,Valletta, Malta
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherHeritage Malta
