Maritime Communities and Traditions

Abstract

Maritime communities and traditions discussed within archaeological discourse, imply either small, contemporary, indigenous communities or folklore traditions from European or North American contexts. The article discusses small-scale tradition and local maritime practices. There are three main strands within this subject—oral histories and folklore traditions, studies of contemporary “traditional” boats, and ethnography that has a maritime locus of study. This article gives a review of these three sources of information on maritime communities and traditions, and addresses the history and context of each research field. Finally, it touches on new directions in studies of maritime communities and traditions, focusing on the notion of maritime heritage. The study of maritime traditions explores the uses to which maritime archaeological knowledge is put in the contemporary world and the cultural and even the socioeconomic politics behind many of the archaeological projects.

Unsustainable practices among contemporary maritime fishing communities of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain): A socioecological and historical approach

“…The study of maritime communities is then essential to carry out a complete analysis of the complex relationships established between people, culture and the natural environment over time. The concept ‘maritime community’ (Ransley, 2011) allows us to overcome many of the geographical, biologic, technicist and economistic viewpoints traditionally applied in the study of maritime societies and their management of the environment. This concept focuses on an anthropological perspective that addresses identity and cultural, political and social phenomena embedded into the different groups linked to the sea (Florido del Corral, 2008; Galván, 1999; Galván & Pascual, 1996; Rubio‐Ardanaz, 2014).…”