Gozo prehistoric artefacts to go on permanent display

Unique archaeological artefacts unearthed during excavations at the Gozo Stone Circle in Xaghra are expected to return to Gozo next year after the Ministry for Gozo installs state-of-the-art showcases at the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, the government said yesterday.

The museum is one of four within the Victoria Citadel managed by Heritage Malta. Nine state-of-the-art showcases, procured through the EU Structural Funds 2004-2006, will be installed by mid-2006.

The government's statement said these showcases offer the maximum protection and security possible for these unique artefacts, including shatter-proof glass and a climate-controlled environment.

Moreover, it said, they enhance the visitor's experience at the museum through an improved presentation of the island's archaeological heritage. The artefacts will be permanently on display.

The Gozo Stone Circle is a prehistoric cemetery in Xaghra situated a few metres away from the Ggantija Temples and used at the same period. It was first recorded by Father Pelagio Mifsud and Jean Houel in the 18th century.

In the early 19th century, early clearance works were carried out by Otto Bayer, with the only documentation of these works being two watercolour paintings by Charles Frederick de Brocktorf, now kept at the National Library of Malta.

Between the early 19th century and the second half of the 20th century, trace of this prehistoric cemetery was lost until Joseph Attard Tabone from Xaghra again discovered its exact location in the 1960s.

In 1987, scientific excavation works were led by the universities of Bristol and Cambridge together with the University of Malta and the Museums Department. Excavations were led by Anthony Bonanno, Tancred Gouder, Caroline Malone, Anthony Pace, Simon Stoddart and David Trump.

The excavation brought to light accurate and scientific information about the population of the island of Gozo during those times, since remains of around 700 individuals were found. More awareness and information about the island's prehistoric heritage is available now that the artefacts have been unearthed, shedding light also on the rituals connected with death and burial in prehistoric times.

These unique artefacts of world importance were exhibited for the first time in Gozo for one month in the late 1990s and afterwards toured major European cities including London, Florence, Prague and Amsterdam.

The return of the artefacts will be complemented by a modernisation project of the Gozo Museum of Archaeology that is being carried out by Heritage Malta.

This project is being carried out by the Ministry for Gozo in close collaboration with Heritage Malta.