Ġgantija Archaeological Park – Gozo

Posted on 25/01/2025 by Michael

Ggantija – Gozo

Ġgantija Archaeological Park – Gozo

The Ġgantija Archaeological Park complex is a unique prehistoric monument situated at the centre of an extraordinary archaeological landscape, the Xagħra plateau on the island of Gozo. It consists of two structures built between c.3600 and c.3200 BC.

Notwithstanding its age, the monument survives in a considerably good state of preservation. The Neolithic builders made use of both locally sourced Globigerina and Coralline Limestone. The hard-wearing Coralline Limestone is used extensively at Ġgantija, while the softer Globigerina Limestone is reserved for inner furnishings, such as doorways, altars and decorative slabs.

The site consists of two structures, with separate entrances and a common boundary wall. Each unit consists of a number of apses flanking a central corridor. Two plaster fragments with red ochre, now on display at the Ġgantija Archaeological Park Interpretation Centre suggest that the internal walls were plastered and painted over.

Remains of animal bone discovered in this site suggest communal rituals and feasting. The use of fire is shown by the presence of stone hearths. A number of libation holes in the floor may have been used for the pouring of liquid offerings. It is probable that during ceremonial activities, the congregation would have assembled outside the monument, since the large forecourt in front of the two structures was purposely raised by the same builders.

Entrance to the Ġgantija Archaeological Park is from an Interpretation Centre that provides visitors with the opportunity to explore various aspects related to life in the Neolithic Period. The centre is also home to a selection of the most significant artefacts discovered at various prehistoric sites in Gozo.

The above text from Heritage Malta

In a number of ways the archaeological site of Ġgantija is not that impressive as those at Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Ħal Tarxien but they make up for it in the fact that the complex is not covered by a huge ‘tent’ – so you can get a feel of the site as it was originally designed – and the artefacts in the attached museum are impressive and complement those on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Valletta.

The view of the complex is marred by the necessary construction of scaffolding – to prevent the collapse of some of the walls and, more importantly, to reduce the insurance claims of visiting tourists if the wall should collapse on them. The Maltese archaeologists are looking for a less intrusive manner to make the walls safe. Until then perhaps it should be treated like the Burnt School in Glasgow where the scaffolding structure is impressive in its own right – although now that is covered with plastic sheeting. However, with all the ‘delays’ surrounding the Mackintosh building it’s very much likely the Maltese will come up with a viable solution (and a much cheaper one at that) sooner than will the Scots in Glasgow.

Location;

Ġgantija Temples, Triq John Otto Bayer, Xagħra, Gozo

GPS;

36.04915 N

14.26774 E

How to get there;

The bus number 37 takes you to just outside the site entrance leaving from Rabat (Victoria).

Open;

09.00 – 17.00

Entrance;

Adults (18+); €10

Youths (12-17); €8

Senior Citizens (60+); €8

Concessions and Students; €8

Children (6-11); €6

Infants (1-5); Free

The ticket for the Ggantija Archaeological Park also includes entrance to the Ta’ Kola windmill, which is at the end of the road opposite the ticket office.

Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park – Malta

Posted on 19/01/2025 by Michael

Mnajdra

Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park – Malta

Ħaġar Qim, over 5000 years old, is found at the top of a promontory with a fertile plain to its east and garrigue sloping down to the sea to the west. 500m downhill from Ħaġar Qim one finds Mnajdra, a contemporary building, probably used by the same community given its proximity.

The late-Neolithic site of Ħaġar Qim consists of a group of monumental megalithic buildings, located on the crest of a ridge. To the west, the site commands views over the open sea, while to the east, it overlooks the edge of a large plain.

The main building of Ħaġar Qim is unusual with features and doorways along its external wall. The floor of the central passage inside the building is paved in stone slabs while the floors in the chambers branching off this passage are made from beaten earth. The original low-relief carvings, copies of which are nowadays in this building, are displayed at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. Doorways inside the buildings are either trilithon, built of two upright stone blocks with a lintel and threshold, or an opening cut into a single megalith, known as a ‘porthole’ doorway. Parts of these buildings were originally covered by a corbelled roof, made of successive courses of megaliths, each one smaller than the one below.

Mnajdra consists of three buildings, constructed in both globigerina and coralline limestone. The first and oldest structure is the small three-apsed structure. The South building, with its concave façade was next to be completed followed by the Central building which was constructed on an artificial platform between the two earlier buildings. The South building’s doorway is aligned with sunrise during the Spring and Autumn equinoxes. During the Winter and Summer solstices, the beams of the rising sun pass along the sides of the main doorway hitting two decorated slabs within the first chamber. Apart from the central passage leading to chambers on either side, the buildings at Mnajdra also include tiny chambers constructed within the thickness of the walls.

Both Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are protected from the elements by shelters. Since these sites were excavated less than two centuries ago, their slow deterioration has been witnessed at first hand. Shelters were therefore constructed in 2008 and are intended to slow down the impact of natural elements on the rate of deterioration of these sites until alternative means of preservation are tested and implemented.

The text above from Heritage Malta

Nature at Hagar Qim Heritage Park

Location;

Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park, Qrendi

How to get there by public transport;

Bus No. 74 leaves the main bus station in Valletta, takes about 45 minutes and drops you right opposite the approach road to the site. Look out for the large white ‘tent’. The bus stop to look for on the screen is ‘Hagar’. Bus No.201, from Rabat to the Airport also passes the same bus stop.

GPS;

35.82899 N

14.44150 E

Open;

09.00 – 17.00

Entrance;

Adults; €10.00

Senior Citizens (60+); €7.50

Youths (12-17): €7.50

Concessions and Students; €7.50

Children (6-11); €5.50

Infants (1-5); Free

The Ħal Tarxien Prehistoric Complex – Malta

Posted on 16/01/2025 by Michael

Ħal Tarxien

The Ħal Tarxien Prehistoric Complex – Malta

The lower part of a colossal statue of a figure wearing a pleated skirt stands sentinel to the dawn of civilization in the highly decorated South Temple within the Tarxien Neolithic Complex site. Discovered in 1913 by farmer Lorenzo Despott, the site consists of a complex of four megalithic structures built in the late Neolithic and then readapted for use during the Early Bronze Age. Only the lower part of the walls survives in the easternmost structure, the oldest part of the complex. However, it is still possible to see its concave façade and five chambers. The extensive archaeological excavations undertaken between 1915 and 1919 were led by Sir Themistocles Zammit, Director of Museums at the time.

The South structure is rich in prehistoric art, including bas-relief sculpture depicting spirals and animals. The domesticated animals depicted include goats, bulls, pigs, and a ram. [The originals of these are now on display at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.] The large number of animal bones discovered in this complex, most of which were found in specific areas, indicates the importance these animals played at the time. The eastern building follows the traditional design of these megalithic structures, with a central corridor flanked by a semi-circular chamber on each site. Evidence of arched roofing in the unique six-apsed Central Structure, the last of the four to be built, helps visitors imagine how these temples might have looked when covered.

Passages between different areas of the complex are sometimes blocked by physical barriers, suggesting that parts of these buildings were accessible to only a part of the community. A large hearth in the corridor between the first apses and a smaller one in the corridor between the second pair of apses of the central structure are evidence of the use of fire within. Although we know little of what took place within these buildings, evidence suggests that they were important structures central to the lives of the Neolithic inhabitants of the island. In the early Bronze Age (after 2,000 B.C.), new arrivals to the islands turned some areas within the site into a cremation cemetery, leaving a rich record of customs and objects.

The text above from Heritage Malta.

Now a few comments by me;

As with many archaeological sites world wide those which were excavated in the early 20th century underwent what would now be classified as vandalism. In place of just re-positioning fallen stones those that were broken were ‘repaired’ with modern materials, in this case concrete. Although much of the time this is obvious at others the thinking of the time of the use of the structures meant that assumptions were made using ‘modern’ prejudices and this might have distorted the restoration.

Late 20th and early 21st century thinking started to consider that the best form of maintaining these ancient structures was to remove any especially unique artefacts, e.g., some of the carved stones, and replace them with contemporary copies – the originals being placed, in this case, in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. Where that has happened at Ħal Tarxien the information boards inform the visitor of such.

In fact, to get a full appreciation of this site (and the others on the islands) a visit to the National Museum of Archaeology is invaluable as it puts the finds into context with the other sites that have already been excavated.

Location;

Ħal Tarxien, TXN 1063, Malta

GPS;

35º 52′ 9” N

14º 30′ 43” E

How to get there;

Buses 81 and 82 leave from the Valletta bus station. From the Ħal Tarxien bus stop walk back on yourself, take the first road on the right and the entrance to the complex is about 150m away.