Punic tomb in Xemxija vandalised

Stones and other debris have been dumped into the shaft of a Punic tomb in Xemxija, blocking access to the chamber, and orange paint has been daubed on the rocks around the tomb, with the words "out" and "privet" written in large and unsightly letters on the bedrock.

Xemxija Ridge has a concentration of important archaeological features that include several prehistoric rock-cut tombs dating from around 4000 BC, as well as the fragmentary ruins of a megalithic temple.

The area also has a number of features from the Punic and the Roman periods, including a 2,000-year-old tomb recently excavated by the University of Malta that is considered to be an important antiquity.

Following reports from the St Paul`s Bay local council and from concerned individuals, officers from the Museums Department went on site last Wednesday.

The department expressed its shock and dismay at the damage, noting that the tomb was the heritage of all Maltese, and an asset to the locality where it is located.

"It is truly a shame that selfish and irresponsible individuals should cause such pointless damage," it said.

The police have been asked to investigate and take criminal action.

Access to our own cultural landscape and countryside is becoming foreign to us all, the education ministry added in a statement.

"Obviously at Xemxija, some individuals are bent on not allowing visitors to take walks in our countryside.

"Apart from the usual obstacles, archaeological ruins are specifically targeted in an attempt to obliterate them from public view."