“Adilos: Ethnographic research and experiential engagement in Delos”

Highlighting the agricultural heritage of Delos

The main goal of the program is to restore “Markos Farm” (or “Markos Village”), a ruined agricultural complex located south of Delos’s main archaeological site and convert it into a residence for researchers working at Delos. In the long term, it seeks to repurpose the 19th century agricultural buildings, preserving a key part of Delos’s rural heritage. Progress to date includes a preliminary study (Dec 2023), site cleaning, and a practical workshop held in October 2024 with Greek and international participants. Final restoration plans are expected by early 2025.

The agricultural history of Delos remains underexplored and is often overshadowed by its classical heritage. This project highlights and preserves that legacy, that had started with Markos Farm—an ensemble of eight buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, notable for their creative reuse of materials such as railway tracks, boat sails, and ancient fragments.

Spanning 12 months, the program includes three components:
1. Ethnographic Research: Oral interviews with 10–12 local residents still engaged in agriculture (farming, herding, or processing, such as cheese-making), either exclusively or alongside tourism. 2. Experiential Activity: A one or two-day experiential vocational apprenticeship activity, taking place within the framework of professional training on the restoration works of Markos’ farmhouse.
3. Dissemination: The results will be shared with the local community through a photographic album/anthology of narratives (in both print and digital form).

A public event will also be organized in Mykonos to celebrate the completion of the program.