Aims and objectives

Abstract

Interest in the study of cart-ruts as part of the archaeological record has increased during the past fifty years. The better understanding of cart-ruts should enrich the current state of knowledge about past human interaction with the landscape. A key factor in this quest to better understand a so far elusive archaeological feature is to demystify and distinguish the varied causes that created these features and how these evolved across space (Europe and beyond) and time (ancient till present). Cart-ruts in the Maltese Islands have been the topic of observation, discussion and speculation since the early modern period, but have acquired momentum during the last century. The current intellectual debate on cart-ruts in the Maltese Islands is markedly divided between those who base their arguments on an academic/scientific basis and others who divert from the ethics of academia and delve into speculative tabloid sensationalism. This has caused confusion and led many to further speculation rather than the logical study of the subject. In order to address this issue cart-rut sites in another country Spain, were selected for the testing of documentation techniques. The aim of this study was to collect all possible information from available academic and non-academic literature, field surveys, maps, and old photographs, and to compile new graphic records in various forms of media and information technology systems. This qualitative analysis was necessary to evaluate all the current theories vis-a-vis the results that were arrived at during this research. The authors intended to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the data, analyse the same data against each other, use references from the data to support or disproof certain arguments, and, finally, attempt to form logical arguments based on the evidence presented. This was necessary because so far such an attempt has not yet been undertaken, although at times It was recommended. The lack of substantial and accurate data on the subject matter has often led to inconclusive results, one-sided opinions, discord, and, at the extreme cases, even gave way to pure fantasy.J Consequently, cart-ruts are presented to the public at large still as a source of mystery. This study reveals that with more intensive field surveys and multi-disciplinary research, cart-ruts may become more comprehensible. So far, most authors suggested that the cart-ruts belong to one period and associated with one function. However, there are several and not one solution or interpretation about the date and purpose of all the cart-ruts, taking in consideration that the evidence associated with a set of cart-ruts may not be valid for another set. Therefore, the interpretation depends on the particular set of cart-ruts under examination, provided that the processes of investigation and interpretation are undertaken within established archaeological theory and methods.