Zejtun's Roman Villa to be preserved
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
The Roman Villa in Zejtun, which dates back to the first and second centuries, is to be saved thanks to a preservation programme initiated by Din l-Art Helwa and the University of Malta, with the help of the HSBC Malta Foundation.
The villa is one of four remaining residential or industrial sites in Malta that date to this period, the other three being the Roman Domus in Rabat, San Pawl Milqi and Ta’ Kaccatura in Birzebbuga.
The villa remains still contain areas of the original Roman tiles and coloured stucco.
The preservation programme is expected to take two years and will protect the ruins from water infiltration, invasive vegetation, and exposure to the elements.
It will be undertaken jointly by the Department of Classics and Archaeology and the Department of the Built Environment of the University.
Urgent conservation measures are scheduled to take place after a protective tent is erected on parts of the site this summer. Students have been involved in research and documentation.
The villa is located within the grounds of the St Thomas More Junior Lyceum School for Girls.
Students at this school will have a first-hand opportunity to watch the programme unfold and participate in its progress.
Simone Mizzi, executive president of Din l-Art Helwa, said the project was important to Malta as a lot of the heritage dating from Punic and Roman times had been lost.
The project, she said, was particularly significant for Zejtun, where people took a lot of pride in the town’s cultural assets and a lot of activities were already taking place to raise awareness of the town’s rich historical past.
She thanked Martin Scicluna, wealth management director of the HSBC Malta Foundation, for recognising the value of the Roman Villa site both as an archaeological asset and for research and for making the university project become a reality.
Culture Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco visited the site this morning, where 65 HSBC volunteers and university students were involved in a series of initial clean ups to clear the area of invasive growth and other debris.
Dr Nicholas Vella, who is leading the project, accompanied Dr de Marco round the site and gave him an overview of the main features of the villa and the work to be undertaken.
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Mr Joe Gatt
May 14th 2011, 15:38
Well done,. but
What about the Roman Villa across the Valley behind Ghar Dalam Cave and Museum at Birzebbuga, and the Neolithic Temple and Bronze age Village at Borg in Nadur?
Should these not be protected also?
Mr peter gauci
May 14th 2011, 13:59
Prosit fuq ix-xoghol li qed isir fil-villa rumana taz-zejtun. Hemm xi pjan bhal dan fuq ta Birzebbugga?? Dik vera abbandunata minsija minn Kulhadd. Forsi ghax ma fijha xejn specjali ? ghal inqas ghadha msaqqfa l-ahhar li kont rajtha kien xi 15 -il sena ilu ma nafx illum kif inhi, niftakar li kien anke hafna oqbra quddiema. Nispera li jiehdu hsieba qabel taqa, jekk mhux ga waqgha s-saqaf.
Mr Tony Abela Abela
May 14th 2011, 13:22
At long last a positive step is taken after the Education Department has been blocking all initiatives attempted by local entities of Zejtun such as the Local Council to preserve this important site. We people of Zejtun were always kept at a distance from this Heritage site by the Education Division as it happened that the site is within the school perimeter wall.
I hope that liaison with Ghaqda Wirt iz-Zejtun is constantly kept. Wirt iz-Zejtun is an a recently set up NGO which was setup to promote and preserve Zejtun Heritage and Culture. For more information visit www.wirtizzejtun.com.
Mr Joe Xuereb
May 14th 2011, 13:10
The Roman Villa at Żejtun is to be preserved. About bloody time too.
Punic and Roman remains have been lost in the past. Shame. Maybe mindsets are changing after all.
But are they? St. Thomas More School? I didn't know that St. Thomas More was a Maltese historical figure, an icon to make up for our paucity of icons. I guess it's the St. the clinches it for him.
I am grateful for whoever set up the preservation order (one has to start somewhere) and all those who will continue to be involved in the future. I wish I was there getting down and dirty.
Nice video. Encouraging. Thank you.
Yes, there's more than a tinge of sarcasm here. It's Saturday morning and the world is not a very nice place I've decided. So allow me to sound off. If there's money for a much-needed Parliament, and for three bronze mermen that will be moved kicking and flapping their powerful tails, then it is right and fitting there should be money allocated for much more important matters. Things are lookin' up. Bring on the dancing boys on loan from Glen Vella. Happy Birthday Glen. You should have been there tonight.