Malta is steeped in history at every turn. With three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and many more historical towns, streets, and buildings on this small, 360 square kilometre island, the rich history is part of everyday life. But is there a hidden history that we can’t see?
Surrounded by over 3,000 square kilometres of seafloor, there is an incredible amount of history to uncover beneath Malta’s waves. Dr Timmy Gambin, from the University of Malta’s Department of Classics and Archaeology is heading a project to map the seabed, with the support of the Planning Authority. This can be used to identify sites of interest. However, it is a painstaking process, taking two to five days to survey an area of just 25 square kilometres.
It takes two to five days to survey an area of just 25km2
Dr Gambin said: “What we set out to do, year after year, is map an area of seabed that was previously unexplored. We ‘fly’ the side scan sonar system along a regular pattern that is predetermined using specialised planning software.” The sonar system, owned by the University, is either towed, or deployed using an automated underwater vehicle (AUV). The AUV is much more time-efficient, speeding up the surveying of each area.
There are many threats to Malta’s underwater heritage. Dr Gambin said these can stem from activities such as fishing, ship anchors, looting, or even damage through natural processes. He hopes to elevate the status of these sites to the same level as historical sites on land. This could ensure they are preserved for generations to come.
Interesting sites are also monitored over time to investigate the site formation processes. September 2017 saw a return to the Phoenician shipwreck site which was discovered off the northwest coast of Gozo in 2014. This saw the team record how the site had changed since their last visit and look for any new artefacts.
While we await the results of their discoveries, the team is fighting to protect Malta’s history.
For more information read Dr Gambin’s article in Think magazine: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/history-beneath-the-blue.
Did you know?
• Old men’s ears are bigger – they grow about 2mm per decade after the age of 30.
• The biggest star in the universe, UY Scuti, is about 1,700 times bigger than the sun, with 21 billion times the volume.
• The Etruscan shrew is the world’s smallest mammal. Although small, they eat about twice their bodyweight every day.
• A new study from Cornell University has found that obesity dulls the sense of taste.
• According to NASA, the peace lily is one of the best air filtering plants for the home.
• After 340 days aboard the International Space Station, one half of a pair of identical twins saw his gene expression change.
For more trivia see: www.um.edu.mt/think
Sound bites
• A team of MIT researchers have found a new material that is 10 times stronger than steel, with only five per cent of its density. Taking small flakes of graphene and fusing them following a mesh-like structure not only retains the material’s strength, but the graphene also remains porous.
www.sciencealert.com/mit-unveiled-material-that-s-the-strongest-and-lightest-on-earth
• Stem cell therapy has helped two patients with advanced AMD, a degenerative disease which destroys vision, regain their sight. While still at very early stages, this research gives hope to patients.
www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/19/doctors-hope-for-blindness-cure-after-restoring-patients-sight
For more science news, listen to Radio Mocha on Radju Malta every Saturday at 11.05am.