The prehistoric temples of Malta

Abstract

Of the larger antiquities of Malta still standing since before the arrival of the Knights, much the most important, imposing and intriguing are the megalithic temples. A few pieces of Saracenic masonry survive built into later city walls; we have a number of Roman buildings such as the round tower, Ta' Gawhar, excavated near Safi in the autumn of 1960; a Punic temple is known but hardly appears above ground level; of the Bronze Age is the wall at Borg in-Nadur, Birzebbuga; but these are all inferior to structures of corresponding date elsewhere around the Mediterranean. Earlier than any of these, during the Neolithic Age, however, the inhabitants of these islands were erecting temples the like of which do not exist beyond their shores.