Serifos mining history preserved by Cycladic Identity

The Cycladic Identity program, funded by the Museum of Cycladic Art, has launched a project titled ‘The Living History of the Serifos Mines’ to preserve the experiential history of the island's mining industry.

Implemented by the Serifos Friends of Cultural Heritage and Environment, the initiative aims to record and highlight the lived experiences of former miners and their descendants. The project utilizes personal testimonies combined with historical and private archival materials to protect the intangible cultural heritage that has shaped the identity of Serifos from the prehistoric era to the present day.

The documentation includes accounts of the harsh working conditions, including the risks faced by young workers in the mines, and notes the historical significance of the location as a site for the struggle for the implementation of the eight-hour workday in Greece.