A public talk on the early research activities to the more recent insights of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Malta, is being organised tomorrow by the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta.

First research activities took place between 1963 and 1970 at the sites of Tas-Silġ and San Pawl Milqi in Malta and Ras il-Wardija in Gozo.

Fieldwork at Tas-Silġ was then resumed in 1995 and continued until 2011. The exceptional long-lasting site of Tas-Silġ is characterised by the presence of a complex of Late Neolithic megalithic buildings, which was continuously occupied throughout the Bronze Age.

In the Phoenician-Punic period the megalithic complex was transformed into a sanctuary dedicated to Astarte, and later in the Roman Republican phase to the goddess Hera-Juno. Finally, during the Byzantine period it became a Christian cultic place.

Research activities of the mission, sustained by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are carried out in the framework of the collaboration with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Malta.

The Italian Archaeological Mission in Malta is constituted by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan, the Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Foggia and the University of Salento.

The talk, in Italian language, is being presented at the Italian Cultural Institute, St George’s Square, Valletta, on Tuesday, December 4 at 6.30pm.

Admission is free of charge.

More information may be obtained online at www.iicvalletta.esteri.it  or by calling 2122 1462.