Facsimile edition of 1906 report on Xewkija excavation

A limited facsimile edition of Fr Emmanuel Magri's Ruins Of A Megalithic Temple At Xeuchia, First Report, dating back to 1906, has just been released by the Salesians of Don Bosco and Heritage Malta.

The report described excavations at a megalithic temple in Xewkija under Fr Magri's direction in October 1904. Better known for his collection of folktales and folklore, Fr Magri was also an archaeologist and was the first director of excavation at the Hypogeum.

The report demonstrates Fr Magri's scholarship, his use of Maltese traditions and his pioneering work on the study and classification of potsherds.

The facsimile edition includes the original watercolour plates of the shards, being published in colour for the first time after more than 100 years. Details of the watercolours and photos of the shards are included for comparison. The publication is enriched with archival material relating to the same excavation.

It is edited by Fr Charles Cini, photography and design is by Daniel Cilia and a historical introduction and notes were written by Fr Josef Mario Briffa SJ. The Salesians and Heritage Malta last year published a reproduction of the fresco of the Great Siege Map done in 1581-82 by Egnazio Danti and found in the Galleria Vaticana delle Carte Geografiche.