Holistic analysis of Tas-Silg archaeological site

Excavations at Tas-Silg have reached an interesting phase with a holistic analysis of the entire site and the consolidation of parts of the archaeological fabric.

The strategy is currently focused on the analysis, data gathering and full interpretation of the site as is.

The excavation works in progress were explained to Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett who yesterday toured the site with Italian Ambassador Alvise Memmo and site managers Anthony Bonanno and Davide Locatelli.

Excavations, financed by the Italian protocol, have been ongoing for almost 20 years by teams from the university of Malta and three Italian universities as part of the Italian archaeological mission to Malta.

Studies carried out on site in the past have produced eight volumes of documentation and artefacts which show that Tas-Silg was one of the most important in the Mediterranean basin, in ancient times.

It contains a spectrum of archaeological fabric dating from Neolithic times to the Byzantine and Arab periods. Tas-Silg is considered a "class A" site.

After the tour the party visited the storage rooms at St Clement's Bastion, in Cottonera where all the artefacts collected from Tas-Silg are kept.