Human remains found at the basement of Casa Cassar in Valletta were still on site and were being investigated, the government said yesterday.

The remains, found a few years ago, are believed to have belonged to Knights of the Order of St John and are being considered proof that the basement of Casa Cassar (also known as Casa Lanfreducci) was an extension of the crypt of the church of Our Lady of Victory, Valletta’s first building.

NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, while avoiding the issue whether the bones belonged to the knights, had attacked plans for the conversion of the basement into a backstage area for the Renzo Piano roofless theatre, saying this would desecrate the original burial place of Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette and the burial ground for the knights who fought in the Great Siege of 1565.

The Office of the Prime Minister denied any work would be taking place in the crypt. Neither had there been any excavations at or alterations to the Casa Cassar basement.

“All the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation and its architects have done was take measurements and carry out the research required for the development application which is still being evaluated,” the OPM said.

It was reacting to a Labour Party statement expressing concern on the project.

Contacted, a spokesman for the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta said the association would voice its stand on the matter after the council met today.

Questions sent to the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage remained unanswered at the time of writing.