Phoenician oil bottles in Malta

Abstract

Although material evidence is scarce. it seems that the Phoenician presence at Malta. which belongs to the initial phase of Phoenician colonization. distinguishes itself from any other colony in the Mediterranean area. The Phoenician interest in this archipelago. as well as its role within the Mediterranean and its contacts with other colonies. still raises many questions. mainly caused by lack of data-or rather. lack of published data. A few years ago. the authors have initiated a project-Phoenician and Punic pottery from Rockcut Tombs in Malla-to study and publish Maltese Phoenician and Punic pottery. Although others have preceded them. only little has been published thus far. This article is the first in a row. based on preliminary results of recent studies