A Carthaginian mound, some 2,300 years old, came to light when workers involved in the construction of a parking lot were excavating to complete the water supply portion of the project. The parking lot would serve the staff of a hospital.
Workers had to dig a ditch next to the road for the water pipes to run through. Then they stumbled upon archaeological findings. It was where the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS), opposite the Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, is building the car park.
The accidental discovery
During the excavation work, a chamber carved into solid, natural stone came to light. After a study done by SCH archaeologist inspectors, it was revealed that the chamber was part of a wider burial complex.
The discovery consists of three burial chambers, each of which has access to a central shaft, characteristic of the Carthaginian and Roman period mounds.
It is worth noting that the entrance to each of the chambers was sealed with authentic plates, and their contents were human remains and offerings. SCH experts, archaeologists and osteologists, are working at the site, conducting excavations, recording and interpreting the finds. All findings have now been transferred to the SCH laboratory for further analysis.
These include skeletal remains, urns and other burial artifacts. All offer valuable insights into the ancient community that once inhabited the area.
Preliminary analyzes point to a Carthaginian timeline, although some artefacts suggest a prolonged period of use, into the early Roman era. Overall, the mounds contain objects from several burials and cremations, offering rare insights into the burial practices of the time.
Now, studies in the SCH lab will focus on cleaning, preserving and further documenting the artifacts and bones. Specialized studies will determine age, sex, pathology and trauma, along with the possibility of further study such as carbon 14 dating and DNA analysis to better understand the people buried in the mound.
The need to develop and preserve heritage
“The discovery highlights the importance of seamless coherence between development projects and heritage conservation, as well as the study of Malta’s rich cultural heritage,” said a spokesperson for the medical services foundation and SCH.
Efforts to fully secure the mound are ongoing, while plans are being made for controlled access to allow continued study and preservation of this important archaeological site.
Following the safe removal of the remains and artifacts, work to complete the parking lot continues. The site will have spaces for over 130 vehicles to meet the needs of Mater Dei Hospital.
The Heritage Watch will continue to monitor development projects until their completion to ensure the protection and safeguarding of any further discoveries in the area.
Source: www.enikos.gr
