It does not take more than an educated and informed guess to presume that the old north-western part of Rabat in Malta still holds many Roman remains underneath the town’s medieval streets, between Mdina and St Paul’s parish church in Rabat.

The former extensive American archaeological site, near It-Tomba, now featuring a medium-sized and ordered car-park, is said to have, below the present ground level, remains of ancient humble houses.

The Muslim cemetery of around AD1174, part of which covers the grounds at the back of the Domus Romana, was rather more extensive at the Domus’s front, jutting into the esplanade by the modern statue of St Joseph.

St Paul’s Street is particularly interesting, with one large house at the former Old Doni Street exhibiting an extensive arched basement, and what is said to be an old Roman street or path, which I have been shown.

Castelletti Restaurant on St Paul’s Street, opposite Ta’ Ġieżu Franciscan church, has large Roman remains in its basement, and there may be far more in sectors of this street, lying hidden underground.

Some Maltese archaeologists may already know all this, but it is, possibly for good reasons, being kept private. Revealing the hidden part of Roman Rabat may be an eye-opener.