Wednesday, 31st December 2008
'Still too early' to tell fate of Punic tombs
One of eight tombs found at the site of the new St James Hospital in Żejtun which are estimated to date back to the Punic age, a span of time which lasted between roughly 600 BC and 1000 AD.
The fate of ancient rock-cut tombs found earlier this month on the site of the planned new St James Hospital is still uncertain as investigations into the discovery are still at an early stage, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage said.
The tombs were discovered during excavation works for the new hospital in Żejtun.
Eight tombs have been found and are estimated to date back to the Punic age, a span of time which lasted between roughly 600 BC and 1000 AD.
But none of the tombs discovered so far was found intact and the superintendence believes that a large part of the damage might have been done during the construction of a milk factory in the 1960s.
Superintendent Nathaniel Cutajar confirmed that the superintendence had intervened at the site but insisted that "it was too early" to comment on the find, stressing that it remained to be seen whether the tombs would be found significant enough to warrant state intervention.
He pointed out that the situation could change drastically from as early as next week, as more tombs, or a decorated tomb, could potentially be uncovered.
Mr Cutajar explained that the entire area covered by the hospital development "has been under intense archaeological investigation," carried out under the direction of the superintendence and financed by the developer.
He added that the construction works were being monitored by an archaeologist who informed the superintendence and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority of the discovery.
Saint James Group chairman Josie Muscat said the whole process was in the hands of the authorities but he views the discovery as another frustrating hurdle in the building of the hospital. He said he was tired of how the hospital development had been dragging on for eight years due to various bureaucratic stumbling blocks, adding: "I'm so fed up I don't give a fig of what's going on".
The discovery of the tombs was originally announced by the Archaeological Society of Malta in a statement urging Mepa and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to step in and take precautions to ensure that the tombs are carefully excavated and studied.
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Comments
These tombs should be preserved, excavations continued and when finished the surroundings changed into a nice prehistoric theme park with museums, fountains, picnic areas and also organised trips with eco-buses to close-by Hagar Qim, Hypogeum and Ghar Dalam. What a breath of fresh air this would be for that area. Why we don't have a Government with similar innovative ideas?? No wonder our tourism product is always going down the drain in quality, we are always offering the same boring product for years over and over again.
Use your imagination and combine this discovery with the project so that it is open to vthe public at large visitors as well as visitors to the hospital!
The developer should propose new plans for the integration of such treasures within the development and be given custodianship of the archeaological heritage under the watchful eyes of Heritage Malta with strict conditions that it is protected and maintained, and even commercialised provided it is for universal enjoyment. This would be as a sign of "good corporate citizenship" by the hospital.
We need new ideas, not arrogance and beauracracy.
I really cannot understand the way Mepa works, kbar maz zghir u zghir mal kbir.
Now how about starting by admitting that excessive interference with nature and aggressive assisted human reproduction techniques are resulting in many more children being born with long term special needs and disabilities than would be the case if nature was allowed to take its course and so-called “childless couples” were advised to follow good health practices to aid conception (including relaxation and not viewing childlessness as a BIG PROBLEM) and to resort to adoption and fostering if merely being with other people’s children in the extended family, schools, local clubs, NGOs etc. is not enough to satisfy their parental urge.
I respect Dr. Muscat for taking up such issues as the present illegal immigrants crisis and the over permissive attitude towards crime, evil and parasitism in Malta. But I sure do not agree with his promotion of aggressive assisted reproduction techniques.
Hahaha. That sounds a nice proposal which would reflect on the hospital taking the people striaght from the operating table to their tomb.
NO Borg. They should not be destroyed. Dr Josie Muscat can build his hospital somewhere else. THey belong to ALL OF US, not to the Government or Dr Josie Muscat.
There are instances of Punic and Paleo-Christian tombs all over the island and they should be treasured.
the tombs (IF they are deemed of 'lesser' importance)
can be blended into a unique feature within the hospital itself
Another developer complaining of Malta's heritage. Some things never really change, and in fact its a joke to read that someone like Josie, a learned man who in my opinion is also cultured voicing such words.
Josie is right in complaining of the red tape that kept dragging such a project for 8 years. And in my opinion as a contributor to the public coffers I think that these things are really unacceptable at this day and age.
However once should not complain of archeological remains. One asks; was an environmental impact assessment carried out? or is this only carried out when the development is outside an already developed area? Are no impact assessments carried out to check for the exisance of archeological remains? Especially in areas that has been inhabited since time immemorial!
I also find it incomprehensible that Mr Cutajar says that the tombs could be insignificat! So if we find some stone-age temple which was damaged by previos construction works, do we allow the developer to raze it to the ground? I think a complex of 8 tombs lying in Zejtun for 3000 years should be preserved or included in the development!
Proud to be from Zejtun ;-)
I think MEPA should take it upon itself to demolish such illegal structures.
Nathaniel Cutajar stressed that "it remained to be seen whether the tombs would be found significant enough to warrant state intervention." Which means that they could eventually be covered over and forgotten. Ah well, we have so much heritage we can afford to get rid of some of it. I ask what would shift the balance against preserving the tombs?