Maltese cart-ruts

In his letter entitled Clapham Junction (June 1), Paul J. Galea replied to an inquiry by another correspondent on the subject of the location of ancient cart-ruts, specifically those to be found in an area known as Clapham Junction.

I agree with Mr Galea that this site and others like it should be preserved for posterity. After all they form part of Malta's heritage. He wondered if old pictures still exist of the site that would pinpoint the exact location of Clapham Junction.

I have been privileged to read a most interesting booklet entitled The Cart-Ruts on Malta and Gozo by Rowland Parker and Michael Runbinstein (1984, published by Gozo Press). This book, which contains many photographs of cart-ruts and pinpoints their locations in these islands, offers a very interesting (and very plausible) theory as to the ruts' origins and their purpose. In the authors' words cart-ruts "...are a fascinating feature, a challenge to archaeologists, historians, and geographers".

In countries where they are found, they are considered part of that country's national heritage, however, "...the scale and nature of the ruts on Malta and Gozo are matched nowhere else in the world, as far as (the authors) know".

Perhaps Heritage Malta should act before it is too late.