|
Nilqgħukom
Tip:
|
|
Please be patient while images load. |
|
this is your walk around the Maltese Islands
You are now visiting ... |
my-malta-dotcom
|
Our unique stone monuments go back well into the Neolithic (Prehistoric) age, circa 5000BC. But even these are considered 'recent' when compared to the findings of Għar Dalam (pron: aaR dull-um, meaning "Dark Cave"), which pre-date the presence of man on these islands. Here, animal remains were elevated, dating back to around 125,000 BC. More on this will be covered in the appropriate section.
As a brief background, it has to be said that Malta must
have once been connected to the island of Sicily, at the foot of Italy, when the Ice Ages
caused the earth's waters to recede towards the poles.
When the ice melted, the water levels rose and animals then inhabiting or migrating over Malta were
trapped on our islands. Evolution stunned their growth, before total extinction occurred.
The bones of 'pigmy' Elephants, 'dwarf' Hippopotami and smaller
creatures, such as mice and bats, were found at Għar Dalam.
At a shallower level, denoting a more recent period (possibly from 18,000 BC), remains of the European
red deer, the brown bear, the wolf and the red fox were also found. Some of these species were
'stunted' (i.e. of hindered growth) owing to their isolation in a restricted environment. The
deer is known to have survived even until man's presence at around 5200 BC.
Malta, however, is better known for its Temple Period, which was preceded by the Early Neolithic Period and followed by the Bronze Age.
Each of these is divided into different 'phases'. The main sites are:
Periods and Phases in Maltese Prehistory
125000 BC ... Ice Age *
18000 BC
Għar Dalam *
5200 – 4500 BC Early Neolithic 4500 – 4400 BC Early Neolithic 4400 – 4100 BC Early Neolithic 4100 – 3800 BC Middle Neolithic (European Copper Age) 3800 – 3600 BC Middle Neolithic (European Copper Age) 3600 – 3000 BC Middle Neolithic (European Copper Age) 3000 – 2900 BC Late Neolithic (European Copper Age) 3000 – 2500 BC Late Neolithic (European Copper Age) 2500 – 1500 BC Bronze Age 1500 – 725 BC Bronze Age 900 – 700 BC Bronze Age
* These names are used here for easy reference; they are not official Period/Phase names.
my-malta-dotcom © 2002
Skorba Temple - Żebbiegħ
Ħagar Qim - interior
_031101_04_s_o.jpg)
Ġgantija altar - Gozo
Mother Nature Deity, Ħagar Qim
Ta' Trapna at Żebbug (Malta)
Ta' Ħaġrat at Mġarr (Malta)
Ġgantija at Xagħra (Gozo)
Ħaġar Qim at Qrendi, limits of Żurrieq
Mnajdra also at Qrendi, limits of Żurrieq
Tarxien, 3 temples from different periods
Ħal Saflieni 'Hypogeum' (underground temple and burial site) at Paola
Brochtorff Circle at Xagħra (Gozo)
Borg in-Nadur Bronze Age fortified village at Birżebbuġa
Cart Ruts at various locations
Chronology:
estimated era
Period Name:
Phase known as:
are also referred to as the Malta Temple Period.
