Excavations currently being made at Mgarr is-Xini are confirming the results of past studies that viticulture, grape pressing and wine production had an important role in the Maltese economy since the classic period.

Speaking during a visit to the archaeological site tal-Logga, at Mgarr ix-Xini, Councils Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said said the excavations were an integral part of the Regional Park project being undertaking by the Sannat and Xewkija councils with his assistance of his secretariat.

Mgarr ix-Xini is being rehabilitated to be transformed into a Regional Park. It is to be made accessible with a number of passages which had been abandoned.

The excavations are being undertaken in a field at Tal-Logga and the indications were that this had previously been a quarry of the punic or early Roman period.

It was likely that the grapes grown in the field used to be immediately taken for pressing.

The government, he said, was helping to finance 15 special projects in 15 localities through a financial allocation of €237,000.