Carved in stone and written as script. Material expressions of Bektashi identity in 19th c. Epirus (NW Greece)

Ottoman-era archaeology is gradually emerging in dialogue with art history and Ottoman studies. Yet aspects of material culture traditionally addressed by our discipline remain understudied and disjointed. This paper investigates stone carvings and Ottoman inscriptions from 19th-century Epirus, focusing on the town of Konitsa (NW Greece). We propose a synthetic approach that treats stone carvings and inscriptions as a distinct but complementary means of manifesting identity. Through a microhistorical comparative analysis of two neighbouring architectural complexes belonging to Bektashi-affiliated households, we use these media to illuminate the identities of local powerholders during an era of political upheaval and imperial reform. The contrast between vernacular, locally produced carvings and standardized, imported inscriptions reflects differing political orientations and strategies of cultural resilience in response to transformations within the Ottoman Empire.