Dr Nicholas Vella (The Sunday Times, August 7) rightly lauds Professor Anthony Bonanno's recent publication Malta: Phoenician, Punic and Roman. There is, however, a little error in his review which appears to be creeping into the writings of eminent authors of late.

The Marquis Barbaro's work Degli Avanzi, etc. was published posthumously in 1794 and not in 1768, as stated. The latter date refers to when the archaeological remains were actually discovered.

It is to be hoped that excavations of recent times is our islands will not lie dormant for a similar period before being published.