Ancient rock-cut tombs discovered near Bulebel

Joe Xuereb (London UK)

Dec 9th 2008, 12:04

IF the ancient rock-cut tombs merited preservation? And by what stretch of the imagination would they NOT merit preservation? Philistinism in Malta is alive and thriving. And if this tiny island nation is seriously interested in promoting itself as a tourist destination, it had better take a close, self-critical look at the writing on the wall. Promotion should home in on the unique aspects that Malta has in abundance. Promoting characteristics thatare done bigger and better elsewhere is dishonest and ultimately, futile.

Emmanuel SAcicluna

Dec 9th 2008, 10:58

@ Raymond Sammut

We are not talking here about one thousand years in a time span of twenty or ten thousand years but only in two and a half millenia. We are dealing with a period practically starting from the battle of Marathon and with Rome's sphere of influence being only in Latium and ending some time after Roman occupation in Britain ended. It looks like as if the professor does not know what he is talking about.
Archeology in Malta is in shambles. We are still excavating at tas-Silg (and that's a good forty years or so), tac-Cawla and many others. How many sites have been lost and destroyed forever under modern constructions? And how many more sites are we prepared to lose?

ANTHEA PRESTON

Dec 9th 2008, 08:27

When I visited Malta earlier this year one of the highlights for me was our visit to the catacombs in Rabat, Gozo. We were shown round by an amazing gentleman who used to be the village pharmacist whose local knowledge and passion for the history before us was thrilling. Shame on Malta that already some archaelogical sites have been built on. I know your island is short of space to build to say the least, try sorting out your immigration problem - that will help for a start. I was told by other Brits that you either love or hate Malta and also that there were "no beaches" so if you liked them don't go to Malta, it will not be the holiday destination for you. Your island is un underrated jewel as far as I am concerned, absolutely brimming with history and culture. Malta is quite fascinating - money should no way be a factor as any kind of so called argument for destroying these tombs. Preserve them, promote them and show them off. Oh and don't forget that tourism accounts for the highest proportion of your overall income!

James Sultana

Dec 8th 2008, 18:17

So now whether the private hospital will be built or not will depend on whether the owner will "sell himself" or not - that is, if he stops his political life he will get the permit, otherwise they will stop him. In these cases, ancient tombs and the rest count very little - actually they don`t count at all.

We already had the government building a huge block of appartments on ancient remains in Mtarfa, the government doing works on ancient Roman remains in the Menqa area ..... and the cherry on the cake was the American Embassy when "someone" decided that although the discoveries found while excavating were quite ancient, "they didn`t have that much importance" to stop the building progress (of course, there was the money paid for the land and the obligations towards the land owner to help this decision).

So, now its up to you Josie ... you want to carry on with the project ? You know what you should do !

Joseph Schembri

Dec 8th 2008, 17:55

Tombs from that period can be dated without any need for expensive and questionable radio carbon methods by correlation of the architecture with other tombs in surrounding areas. For e.g. the presence or otherwise of headrests, indentations etc., can give us accurate ideas about the period. Some 5 years ago a journalist working for another local, English language newspaper published an article where he claimed to have found an as yet unrecorded Punic or paleo-christian tomb and the possibility of catacombs in a private field in a village in the south west of Malta. Said find was reported to the relevant authorities, giving the precise location but I am told that not even an acknowledgment from the guys there was received. The moment a tourist lands in Malta he literally walks on ancient history as a tomb was found while the present runway was being constructed and it had to be covered. However the story I mentioned above seems to tell me that there are people in charge of these things who don't seem to care. We are talking of tombs from the period when Christ was buried and somebody is just not marketing what we have!

Raymond Sammut

Dec 8th 2008, 14:06

@ Emmanuel Scicluna

DNA from dried human/animal material, along with radiocarbon dating, can now reduce the margin for error dramatically. The technology can also be used to establish cultural connections among tombs at various locations across political borders.

The range of 500 BC to 500 AD being reported here is obviously a precursor estimate based on past experiences of MAS.

Ian Grech

Dec 8th 2008, 10:21

A good few years ago some other tombs were discovered right under Tal Barrani Road near the Roc-A-Go yard. This is less than 200m from the site described here.

Emmanuel Scicluna

Dec 8th 2008, 09:54

Spot on in guessing the period, I wonder what the margin of error is profs?

LOUIS FENECH

Dec 8th 2008, 08:53

I cannot but agree with Mr Cox. Mepa should be more strict when such sites come to light. No money of our fat cows should be enough to make MEPA or the superintendence of Cultural Heritage overlook the hidden underground treasure that come to light by chance, yet to be escavated and made to be enjoyed by the general public. No private hospital or other private entity, such as the case of Xewkija Tombs, should hold the authorities from stopping the excavation before studying the discoveries. We do hope that the area which profs Bonanno indicated - as cited in your article above - be taken notice of by the authorities and preserved.

Maria Dolores Fenech

Dec 8th 2008, 08:38

I wonder what happened to the ones found near Rock-a-go? When Tal-Barrani Road was being resurfaced, a similar site was found, but after a long time of suspended works, the works were carried out as if nothing was found after all.

steve cox

Dec 7th 2008, 20:30

Well said all, We have been visiting Malta & Gozo for 24 years & what attracted us originally was the culture & history not found elsewhere. This draws us back year after year. (along with the diving, the wine & the bread), Please preserve the unique heritage that is Malta.

Ivor Ramsden

Dec 7th 2008, 19:26

Well said, V Pulis and Marion Pace. As a regular visitor to Malta from another small, but much colder, island in the Irish Sea I can assure you that Malta's history and culture, not beaches, is what keeps me coming back. You have got a priceless and unequalled heritage in Malta and the powers that be just don't take advantage of it.
I have had to work hard, researching, to discover some of your Island's hidden gems, but it was well worth it.

Anthony Grech

Dec 7th 2008, 11:50

I wonder if the findings mentioned are like the ones discovered at Xewkija. The site of the Xewkija ancient rock-cut tombs or whatever, are situated where Enemalta is building its new Head Office. Can you please gentlemen of Mepa and Superintendance of Cultural Heritage investigate why some of the Xewkija Tombs were destroyed and others were buried under a massive concrete construction? Please take action now (that is if its not too late)

jason spiteri

Dec 7th 2008, 11:30

well said Mr Pulis, I agree with you 100%

Marion Pace

Dec 7th 2008, 10:55

I agree with Mr. Pulis, Malta should be marketed for its rich historic sites nowhere in the world would you find such a vast history from the preneolitic to the 2nd World War era. We should take great care of what we've got. If I were a non resident I for one would only visit Malta for its historic richness!

v.pulis

Dec 7th 2008, 10:33

God only knows what lies buried beneath he buildings in the Tarxien Zejtun area.
The presence of temples and the hypogeum indicates that there must have been a triving community in the vicinity. These people had too be very organized to have constructed such elaborate structures. These are the real treasures we should be promoting to the tourist. Sandy beaches, abound all along the mediterranean coasts and we can never compete against the giants that surround us but our culture is second to none and it is this asset that puts us at an advantage.