Environmental change and human activity at Tas-Silg (Malta) from the Bronze Age to the Punic Period : based on an analysis of environmental samples from Trench C5

Abstract

Trench CS of the current excavations at Tas-Silg, Malta, is located in the southern sector of this extensive site (Figure 1). Parts of the trench had been previously excavated by the Missione Archaeologica Italiana in 1970. Their excavation was limited to finding remaining walls and structures and their respective foundation trenches (Caprino, 1973: 43). This is reflected in the method applied: once a structure was found under the layers of soil, the overlying sediments were shovelled and bulldozed away (Plate 1. As a result, the remaining stratigraphy is restricted to less than the height of wall.