Diplomazia culturale tra vecchi conflitti e nuove risoluzioni: l’attività della Missione Archeologica Italiana a Malta dagli anni ’60 a oggi

This article aims to outline the activities of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Malta from the 1960s to the present, situating them within the broader framework of the complex network of relationships that shaped the Maltese archipelago during the period surrounding its independence in 1964. Following Malta’s incorporation into the British Crown Colony, scholarly discourse in the historical and cultural domains became increasingly polarized along ideological and political lines, with divisions emerging between pro-Italian and pro-British perspectives. This dichotomy became especially pronounced in the years immediately preceding Maltese independence. Within this context, the Italian Archaeological Mission was established in 1963. Currently, it operates within a markedly different political and social landscape, in close collaboration with Maltese institutions responsible for research, heritage protection, and cultural valorisation.