Remains of a Late Roman burial site, discovered a few weeks ago on the site of the new Aviation Park in Safi are to be roofed over and will remain accessible through a manhole, Malta Industrial Parks said today.

‘Investigations on the archaeological remains have been concluded to the satisfaction of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority following the discovery of a Late Roman rural burial site during the excavation works for the erection of a two-bay hanger by Medavia at Safi Aviation Park', MIP said.

The site has now been fully cleared and surveyed under the presence of an archaeological monitor. A roofing structure capable of handling aircraft up to a single pressure point of 40 tonnes has been designed to preserve and protect the archaeological remains. The structure has been approved by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and works on the structure have been commenced today in order to maintain the stringent timelines imposed on the contractors for the completion of the Safi Aviation Park.

The archaeological site consists of 10 burial chambers which have all been documented by the Superintendence. An access manhole will be constructed to ensure that further investigations and excavations could be held in the future should archaeological research be required.

Malta Industrial Parks Limited thanked Medavia, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for their expeditious feedback and for the teamwork, such that no practical impact on the delivery timeframes of the project management of the Safi Aviation Park had been experienced.