An important “jigsaw puzzle piece” from the original St Elmo fortifications dating back 500 years has been uncovered during restoration work on the fort in Valletta.
Since 2009, a research team has been looking for remnants that might shed light on the original structure.
But it was only by chance that they discovered a wall that probably formed part of the 1552 fortifications.
Three weeks ago restorers were cleaning a wall on the internal side of the fort when a loose stone gave way.
Peering inside the hole, the team discovered what historians had dreamed of for years. They found a wall measuring about five metres at the top and eight metres deep. It reaches down to rock level and provides an indication of the original depth of the ditch that used to surround the four-pointed-star fort.
The discovery may also supply proof that the lifeline provided by the fort to defenders during the Great Siege of 1565 came from the sea.
A vault at the bottom of the wall may lead to a tunnel that opens out to the sea on the right of the Valletta peninsula.
Further archaeological research could unearth items that date back five centuries – the research team has already found some shards of pottery.
Historian Stephen Spiteri described how the original 1552 fortifications were much smaller than those visible today.
Over the years, forts were built on top of each other “like a trifle”.
There are few documents about the original 1552 fort and historians do not have a clear idea of its original structure.
“This wall is another important piece of the jigsaw puzzle,” he said.
The fort was upgraded throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, while a Baroque complex and a church were erected at the beginning of the 18th by engineer Charles Francois de Mondion, who was also responsible for extensive works on Mdina and the building of Fort Manoel.
When the island fell into the grasp of the British Empire, the fort’s footprint did not change but amendments transformed its structure completely in some places.
Fort St Elmo is now being restored and will be transformed into a cultural and tourist attraction aimed at luring visitors and economic activity to the lower end of Valletta.
The €15 million EU-funded project to regenerate the upper part of the fort started in May and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2014.
But Minister Austin Gatt yesterday said that, considering the archaeological sensitivity of the site, the target date might have to be pushed back.
The fort will be restored with minimum intervention on the walls and structure. Works include cleaning, dismantling and rebuilding dangerous roofs, unblocking apertures, and stone repair and replacement.