Secrets Of The Stones: Malta’s Lesser-Known Megalithic Mysteries

Malta’s prehistory is as dazzling as it is opaque. The excavations and research by archaeologists and other academics have been incredibly thorough, and have helped to create fantastic insights into the culture behind some of the most incredible and unique megalithic architecture in the world.

However, there are still many mysteries about the people who built these structures, and it is this unknown element that creates a knowledge vacuum. This is habitually filled with sensationalist theories, something that is boosted further by a lot of confusion in the narrative. It’s also true that, whilst these sites, some of which are recognized by UNESCO, get a lot of attention, there are many lesser-known megalithic monuments and strange finds on the island. These help to build a more complete, and an even more complex, picture of these ancient people.

Minor but Monumental

Although the smaller and less famous megalithic sites in Malta tend to be off the beaten track and a little on the scant side, the large blocks and careful masonry still provide important testimony to the activity of the ancients. The temples of Ġgantija and the Xagħra Stone Circle necropolis in Gozo are internationally famous, and stand just five hundred meters (546 yards) apart. But what’s often overlooked by visitors is that, close by and sat in the middle of a field, the remains of another temple façade can be found.