VV(1) - Malta -2

[David Morris]

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Palms/3401/prehistory.html

first settlers
Malta has been inhabited since about 5200 BC.
Archaeologists have been able to determine the origin of the first 
inhabitants of the island with the help of pot sherds, found in the cave of 
Ghar Dalam in Birzebbuga. The pottery used by these people shows a close 
resemblance to that of the Stentinello culture of Sicily from about the same 
time. Hence we may assume that the first inhabitants of Malta originated 
from there. Sicily is about 60 miles north of Malta - a distance that could 
be crossed even in prehistoric times.

temple period
After some new immigrants arrived in Malta, the so called Temple Culture 
developed around 4000 BC. The first temples were constructed about 3600 BC. 
Ggantija in Xaghra (Gozo) is one of them. The temples were built with huge 
stone blocks and almost always consist of a number of trefoil shaped rooms, 
interconnected by a corridor.

The temples were used for the veneration of the goddess of fertility, of 
which several statuettes were found. She is depicted as an obese woman; 
archaeologists call these images 'fat lady' statues. In many cultures 
obesity is a symbol of abundance and fertility.

Many discoveries were made in the temple complex of Tarxien, not far from 
the capital city of Valletta. This temple complex belongs to the last phase 
of the Temple Period and is characterized by numerous decorations, amongst 
others with spiral motives and animal reliefs. Tarxien was excavated in the 
beginning of the 20th century.

Apart from temples, several burial complexes were discovered dating back to 
the Temple Period, like the hypogeum in Paola, not far from Tarxien. Here as 
well large amounts of statuettes were found.

The Temple Period lasted until about 2500 BC, when the race of the temple 
builders became extinct.



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