Kurt Sansone
Bones of contention
The menorah, a tell-tale sign, hewn in the walls of catacombs in Rabat, suggesting that the place was a burial site for an early Jewish community in Malta. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli
A written undertaking between the heritage authorities and the Jewish community to reinstate the human bones found in four catacombs in Rabat barely lasted 24 hours after Jewish representatives pulled out of the commitment.
The heritage authorities are still in the dark as to precisely why the Jewish representatives withdrew once the archaeological works had started as agreed with members of the Jewish community observing the operation.
On its part, the Jewish community asked the "political authorities" to intervene in the matter claiming that the archaeological investigations did not respect the agreement reached.
"The heritage authorities wanted to document each and every bone found in the catacombs, measure them, take pictures and then pass them on to us. This process goes against our beliefs and we always objected to it," Lawrence Attard Bezzina, a representative of the Jewish community, said.
Mr Attard Bezzina said the process would have taken ages and "perpetuated the sacrilege".
Controversy has surrounded the tranquil site in Rabat, which forms part of the St Paul's catacombs complex, after the Jewish community asked for the ancient human remains to be given a proper burial according to Jewish rites and traditions.
The site is also an important archaeological area and, even though the heritage authorities have agreed to be respectful to Jewish burial traditions, they are insisting that they be documented and studied.
"We remain committed to respect the Jewish burial traditions as agreed but for us the site is extremely important because it could shed light on the earliest recorded presence of the Jewish community in Malta," Nathaniel Cutajar, from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, said.
He confirmed that four of the catacombs forming part of the complex had the menorah symbol hewn in the rock, which could indicate the presence of a Jewish community.
"The investigations are ongoing according to accepted international archaeological best practice and with respect to the commitment entered into with the Jewish community," Mr Cutajar said.
After a lengthy meeting on February 23, Heritage Malta, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and representatives of the Jewish community entered into a written commitment that detailed the methods of how the bones were to be re-buried.
The understanding made it clear that all the scientific and archaeological work would be carried out by the Superintendence, which acts as the regulatory authority on heritage affairs.
It pointed out that all material collected from the passageway during the archaeological investigations would, after being fully documented by an osteologist, be reinstated in the burial area within the same catacomb in which it was discovered.
Jewish burial tradition stipulates that the area where human bones are found would have to be covered by a conservation textile and a layer of clean aggregate. The same would apply to tombs where no bones were found but which had a layer of soil or dust since it could contain the decomposed remains of humans.
This method means that important archaeological features in the tombs would be covered up for good.
Although the Superintendence had no problem acceding to the requests of the Jewish community, it insisted that the site be investigated thoroughly before the burial goes ahead. In fact, large sacks containing aggregate to be used in the burial process were transported to the site.
The law lays down that an archaeological site must be investigated before any intervention is allowed to go ahead.
The site in Rabat belongs to Heritage Malta and the agency had also secured EU funding to upgrade and restore all the catacombs that form part of the St Paul's complex.
The catacombs, spread over 2,000 square metres, are an oasis of calm in the middle of a built up area. They were discovered at the end of the 19th century and date back to the late Roman period some 1,500 years ago.
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Ch.Pace
Mar 12th 2009, 14:46
@j.spiteri - He is probably more Maltese than you are or will ever be, what has this issue have to do with Israel? @G.Falzon "But ....something that does not make sense is again the arrogant attitude of the Jews, that want to interfere to common archaeological practices cos the bones belong to them ..what perpetual sacrilege???? " They are all Maltese citizens who are we to deny them the right to "interfere", would it be ok if they were Catholics to do so? Are the archaeologists at HM atheists? Or is their "hobby" more important than people's religious beliefs? Inquisition what?!
Michael Neville Cassar
Mar 12th 2009, 08:59
Hi haven't we all have the same God? let these bones be buried ,nobody is going to gain anything.
Margaret Spiteri
Mar 11th 2009, 21:32
For sanity's sake let the Jewish Community bury their dead, stop being so obstinate with them. What does Heritage Malta, who did not left a finger all these years it knew that the catacombs were in such a terrible state, want to achieve by studying the bones? Want to learn how many people are buried there? Whether they were female or male? What they died of? You should have played your games years ago, not now.Come on let them lay in peace, don't pick up on these people who have always been an exemplary part of our society. Why do you have to add insult to injury by having to pay for the authorities mistakes? Or is there anti-Semitism at play somewhere down the corridors of Heritage Malta? @G Falzon why are the "Jews arrogant" wouldn't you do the same? Or don't you respect your ancestors. If the Hagar Qim fiasco is anything Heritage Malta goes by, I pity what would happen to those bones...
j.spiteri
Mar 11th 2009, 20:46
@Law. ATtard Bezzina
SHAME ! SHAME! SHAME! is what your people do to the Palestinians every election nears in your state in the Middle East!
ardrian borg cardona
Mar 11th 2009, 17:37
Can somebody explain how anybody came to the conclusion that these bones are of jewish people? Just because there is a menora carved into the walls of the catacombs, this does not automatically make the bones 'jewish'. Anybody could have been buried there for a number of reasons. I am not saying that they are not jewish bones but am curious to know how this conclusion was reached.
Law. ATtard Bezzina
Mar 11th 2009, 13:09
Heritage Malta and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage are well aware to our requests, if not they live in world of their own. This article is nothing but a face-saving tactic on the part of Heritage Malta etc. Let them answer our letter and accept our requests than we can start work. Did you report anywhere that they want us to pay for everything? Including the agregate (which we bought and brought to the site). Did you publish just one photo showing the bones scattered all over? We will not be drawn into writing on this blog again. Sorry but we don't trust them anymore. All we have to say is SHAME ! SHAME! SHAME!
lgalea
Mar 11th 2009, 13:09
"The heritage authorities wanted to document each and every bone found in the catacombs, measure them, take pictures and then pass them on to us. This process goes against our beliefs and we always objected to it," Lawrence Attard Bezzina, a representative of the Jewish community, said. Mr Attard Bezzina said the process would have taken ages and "perpetuated the sacrilege"."
That is the normal practice in all archeological excavations.
The heritage authorities were correct in not allowing religious interference in their archeological excavations.
After all, those remains are the property of all the people of Malta and no religious obstacles must be allowed to hinder their development in Malta and for tourism purposes.
So should we now stop all archeological excavations because someone says that what the authorities goes against their beliefs?
Re what the jewish community wants, such as the area where human bones are found would be covered by a conservation textile and a layer of clean aggregate and tombs where no bones were found with a layer of soil or dust would deny the Maltese people seeing the heritage that belongs to ALL the MALTESE people.
Anthony Mercieca
Mar 11th 2009, 12:08
It is very strange that the issue of the handling of human remains of Jewish faith is surfacing now. I remember visiting the very impressive tomb with a hune solid rock door way back in the 70s with our Archeology Professor Mgr Borg.
Relying on memory, I am under the impression that not far from the catacombs, actually on the Melita moat, close to the Saqqajja Petrol station and next to the Franciscan Priory, there is an excavation plot waiting progress. Hints are that the remains are that of a Synagogue. Who knows perhaps the Jewish community would sponsor the excavation, obviously under Malta Heritage supervision
G Falzon
Mar 11th 2009, 11:31
All bones / artificats in those catacombs.......belong to all the Maltese and are part of our history, something we must be proud of.
I congratulate the local Jewish community to put extra pressure on the Govt. for the preservation of such a site.
But ....something that does not make sense is again the arrogant attitude of the Jews, that want to interfere to common archeological practices cos the bones belong to them ..what perpetual sacrilege????
Carmel Taliana
Mar 11th 2009, 10:36
Who considers MALTA as a modern nation?
Joe Cassar
Mar 11th 2009, 09:55
What is happening to Malta?
- people taken to court for daring to wear "religious" costumes during carnival,
- Government employees dismissed for criticising a church development,
- And now a ridiculous fuss about the internment of bones dating back thousands of years.
The supposedly secular state is retreating on all fronts in the face of a resurgence of obscurantiusm. We seem to ba marchimg steadily back into the middle ages.
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