Skull measuring and cleaning at the Xagħra Circle excavation.

Small in size but definitely rich in history, Malta boasts some of the oldest free-standing buildings in the world.

The main megalithic temples and the Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum are World Heritage sites but there is a lot more on offer than the better known monuments of Tarxien, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, Ta’ Ħagrat, Skorba and Ġgantija, in Gozo.

Scattered all over the islands are about 30 other temple buildings that are, admittedly, less well-preserved than their famous counterparts.

Over the years, a number of sites were destroyed after being built over or dismantled.

The neolithic temples and details of their internal decoration in the form of pitted and spiral designs, statuary and beautifully formed and decorated pottery items are being featured in a new 144-page book.

The Neolithic Temples is the second in the series The Cultural Legacy of Malta & Gozo, a fundraising initiative by Fr Charles Cini SDB to help with the running of St Patrick’s Salesian School in Sliema.

The author is historian Vincent Zammit and the photography and design are by Daniel Cilia.

The first book was entitled The Village Feast.

The books are not on sale at bookshops and can only be purchased through a number of NGOs or directly from St Patrick’s School.

For free home delivery contact clomagbooks@gmail.com or call 7986 5105.