The rock-cut pits of Bronze Age Malta : an interpretation of their typology, function, and context

Abstract

The phenomenon of the rock-cut pits of the Maltese Bronze Age has received very limited dedicated research directly investigating the pits’ typology, function, or context. This dissertation is intended to provide an outline of the status quo of the study of the pits, provide certain interpretations which can contribute to the current understanding of the pits, and pave the way for further research and work to be done to further elucidate their use and context. The dissertation accordingly includes a summary of past research on the pits, establishes various standardised typological criteria by which the pits can be classified, and scrutinises the contentious matter of the pits’ function with the aim of definitively demonstrating the pits’ intended function. The dissertation also provides tentative inferences regarding the pits’ context based on the analysis of their spatial distribution. All of the Maltese Bronze Age pits which have been published, or which were accessible for surveying, are included in this study, amounting to 429 pits distributed among 43 sites.