Early eco-agrarian adaptations in Malta

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge is generated at a local level and is unique in its culture and society. The Maltese rural landscape, being one of the most anthropomorphic in the world, describes a wealth of indigenous knowledge on how to thrive in arid conditions on barren land. The most visible features of the present landscape are the characteristic field terraces with their dry rubble wall containment that in most cases represent the boundary wall of man-made “Campi Artificiali”. These features constitute a unique rural attribute that has facilitated human habitation of the islands. Additionally, specialised water harvesting and dryland cultivation

techniques were also employed by Maltese farmers to sustain a living in an often-arid environment. Recognizing the importance of indigenous knowledge and locally developed technologies can facilitate the sustainable development and conservation interventions in rural areas.