Ħal Ġinwi temple

The Ħal Ġinwi temple (Maltese pronunciation: [ħalˈʒɪnwɪ]) was a prehistoric megalithic temple site located southeast of Żejtun, Malta dating back to the Ġgantija phase (3600–3200 BCE).[1][2][3] The site is located in an area bearing the same name, or alternatively Ħal Ġilwi,[upper-alpha 1] which is known for its archaeological remains,[6] and lies around one kilometre from the Tas-Silġ multi-period sanctuary and archaeological site.[7]

Ħal Ġinwi temple
Ħal Ġinwi temple is located in Malta
Ħal Ġinwi temple
Location within Malta
LocationŻejtun, Malta
Coordinates35.848306°N 14.547225°E / 35.848306; 14.547225
TypeTemple/Settlement
History
MaterialLimestone
PeriodsĠgantija phase
Site notes
Excavation dates1917
ArchaeologistsAlbert V. Laferla
Themistocles Zammit
ConditionDestroyed
OwnershipGovernment of Malta
Public accessNo

History

Remains of the temple at Ħal Ġinwi were found in the vicinity of San Niklaw chapel, to the right of the main road from Żejtun to Marsaxlokk, between Żejtun and the Tas-Silġ temple.[8] The site is today represented by a few ashlar blocks still visible in a field wall. More remains may survive beneath the soil, since its excavation was superficial.[8] The site was originally excavated by Albert V. Laferla in 1917. Architect Albert E. Vassallo drew the site during Laferla’s archaeological excavations.[7] Themistocles Zammit, however, interpreted the remains as a possible domestic dwelling. John D. Evans suggested that the megalithic structures resemble more a dual temple site.[1][9]

Archaeology

The site has five semi-rectangular rooms enclosed within a megalithic wall,[10] and like Tal-Qadi temple, it had an anomalous form when compared with other megalithic temples in Malta.[11] The floors were paved in hard stone or covered in beaten earth (Maltese: torba). Many pottery shards were found on site, and stone whorls,[12] while flint and chert remains were scarce. Part of a handled cup, with a decoration of pointillé triangles was found on site, which can be compared with remains found at Capo Graziano, Filicudi, an island off Lipari.[13] The pottery dated mainly to the Ġgantija and Tarxien phase, with very few sherds from the Tarxien cemetery phase.[1] The site included remains of a Roman period house, with mosaic floors.[2]

See also

Notes
  1. In certain sources,[4] the area is referred to as Ħal Ġilwi, such that the two names are used interchangeably.[5] Moreover, Sagona reports that a house with an olive oil installation was found close by, at a site called Ħal Ġilwi.[2]

References
  1. "National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands" (PDF). culture.gov.mt. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  2. Sagona, Claudia (2015). The Archaeology of Malta. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 311. ISBN 1107006694.
  3. Fenech, Katrin (2007). Human-induced Changes in the Environment and Landscape of the Maltese Islands from the Neolithic to the 15th Century AD:. Archaeopress. p. 41. ISBN 1407301209.
  4. Bonanno, Anthony (2013). "Pre-History to Byzantine Times". zejtunreligiousheritage.org. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  5. "Gaz 31.1.06" (PDF). gov.mt. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  6. Bonello, V (1964). Missione archeologica italiana a Malta: Rapporto preliminare della campagna 1963. Centro di studi semitici, Istituto di studi del Vicino Oriente, Università. pp. 18–19.
  7. Vassallo, Bernard (9 July 2012). "Archaeological perspectives". Times of Malta. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  8. Trump, David Hilary (2002). Malta: Prehistory and Temples. Malta: Midsea Books Limited. p. 191. ISBN 9990993939.
  9. Evans, John Davies (1971). The prehistoric antiquities of the Maltese Islands: a survey. London: Athlone Press. pp. 25–26.
  10. Evans, John Davies (1959). Ancient Peoples and Places MALTA. p. 125.
  11. Trump, David Hilary (1966). Skorba: Excavations Carried Out on Behalf of the National Museum of Malta, 1961-1963. Society of Antiquaries. p. 47. ISSN 0953-7163.
  12. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 1923. p. 11.
  13. Rivista di scienze preistoriche. Vol. 18. Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria. 1963. p. 178.


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