Bonnici said that “today marks another link in a chain of efforts leading to a new meaning for accessibility to our heritage and a new meaning to heritage itself, which should not just be admired but lived and felt because it is what forms us as a nation.”

He also praised the workers’ dedication and explained how the process of excavating the prehistoric structure while ensuring that no harm comes to the remains or to the workers is complicated. 

Zammit describes the Xrobb l-Għaġin project as “an ambitious endeavour that once again acknowledges the abilities and experience of Heritage Malta employees in their respective fields and puts the agency at the forefront of its sector.”

He mentioned the previous phases of the project, where in-depth studies aided the precise identification of the area to be researched, through remote sensing, geological analysis and seabed evaluation.

The relocated remains will be accessible to the hundreds of people visiting the park, which is one of the south’s valuable gems as it can be used for both recreational and educational purposes. 

The plan is to have all works completed by the end of this year so that the public may once again enjoy this wonder.

Temi Zammit and Thomas Ashby first discovered the remains of a small prehistoric structure at Xrobb l-Għaġin at the start of the 20th century. When the structure was excavated, it was very close to the cliff’s edge, and parts had already collapsed. 

This meant the few parts discovered were removed, and the structure was gradually concealed again, probably through natural means.

Archaeologists had to be strapped to a tower crane during the whole process to be out of harm’s way should the cliff edge give way. In this manner, from September to December 2021, the archaeologists excavated two long trenches to identify the structure’s exact location. 

In this first season of excavations, the team identified parts of flooring and structures. But, what they found could not be compared to the specific parts of the structure documented by Ashby since they were only exposed in narrow trenches. 

Heritage Malta’s Archaeological Excavations Department, which is in charge of these excavations, embarked on a process whereby the area bearing the most interesting elements was excavated in quadrants.

The prehistoric structure’s remains have now been identified without any trace of doubt. They have started to be uncovered again, more than a century after they were first investigated, so that they may be documented manually, digitally and virtually. 

By the end of this season of excavations, a condition assessment will also be conducted to decide which parts of the structure might be relocated to a safer spot in the park, away from the eroding cliff edge.

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