It is constantly being reported that the Triton Fountain outside City Gate in Valletta is due to be moved to an alternative site, perhaps not too far from the present one.

Although the following needs to be verified, there was a report that “a pair of ruts were discovered during the works on City Gate, Valletta, in 1927. They have been covered up ever since” (The Cart Ruts, David Trump, Malta Before History’, ed. Daniel Cilia, 2004: 391). There is a still existing black and white photo taken to confirm this and it is shown in the book.

A different or parallel version exists in Alfie Guillaumier’s book Bliet u Rħula Maltin, L-Ewwel Volum, under Furjana (Il-), under the caption Kanali tar-Roti (Cart Ruts), 2002: 199. This author writes that, in 1927, during levelling works outside City Gate at Valletta, towards the Harper area, two double sets of cart ruts lying close to each other were met.

He adds that these ruts were found during the laying of Duke of York Avenue, now renamed Triq Ġlormu Cassar, close to the War Memorial.

They were subsequently covered up but may still exist under the foundations of the said road.

Since Valletta and Floriana are so lacking in prehistoric remains, it may be desirable to preserve any cart ruts that still exist, either at the Triton Fountain or near the War Memorial, if they are met during construction works.