It was reported in 2013 that the important archaeological temple site at Tas-Silġ would soon be opened to the public, once complete excavations had been carried out, which is about now.

The site has been meticulously studied since the 1930s, then in the 1960s-70s and lastly in the 1990s.

It has one megalithic temple, out of three, then a Bronze Age settlement, followed by a temple to the Punic goddess Ashtart/Astarte/Hera/Juno, some Roman interventions, a 4th century Byzantine monastery. There was also Arab use of the site, followed by quarrying as well as use of the site for agricultural purposes.

No mean site but it is insufficiently known to the Maltese interested public, except, of course, to organised groups or foreign visitors, as are Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien, the Hypogeum, Ta’ Ħaġrat and Skorba temples.

Has the time not come to open this important archaeological site to the paying public, care of Heritage Malta?

A professionally-prepared guide book would be a further asset to explain this ‘new’ cultural site to visitors, as at Ħagar Qim temples, etc.