The Maltese Islands are rich in archaeological
sites and artefacts from the some of the
earliest traces of human settlement in
the world. Yet so little is known for
certain about the beliefs and organization
of these prehistoric societies.
Malta and Gozo's temples and the underground
chamber of the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum are
designated World Heritage Sites. They
hold equal fascination for tourists and
archaeologists.
Man was present on the
Islands for around 1500 years before the
megalithic phenomenon began. The earliest
signs of human activity in Malta date
back to the Neolithic Period of about
5000 BC. Evidence of New Stone Age Man
was found at Ghar Dalam, a cave near Birzebbuga
in the south of Malta. The cave also revealed
fossilized bones of numerous animals such
as dwarf elephants. This indicates that
Malta was at one time a land bridge between
the European and African continents.
When man arrived on the
Islands, he would have found a landscape
very different to the rocky arid
one today; one more wooded
and with more animal life.
However, these early
farmers would have had to bring with them
almost everything they needed to survive,
from domestic animals to grain.
It is a feat in itself
that these people managed to cross from
Sicily. They would have made many voyages,
on craft probably little more than rafts.
The journey could have been made only
at a few times in the year, weather permitting.
In addition to being competent farmers,
these early dwellers would have needed
a good knowledge of seafaring and the
elements.
A major prehistoric site
was discovered at Skorba, in the north
of Malta. Here, we learn more of how they
lived: pottery fragments have been discovered
similar to those found in Sicily. These
cave dwelling farmers seem to have retained
contact with Sicily - traces of obsidian,
a volcanic rock, and flint, continued
to be imported into Malta for use in tools.
Though we have no evidence that there
was any cultural transfer between the
two islands.
These Neolithic farming
communities appear to have had spiritual
beliefs. In the so-called 'Skorba Shrine'
fragments of the earliest representation
of human form were found: unmistakable
female figurines, perhaps indicating belief
in a 'mother goddess' or a fertility symbol.
What happened to these
farmers is unclear. But by around 3500
a new people, probably also from Sicily,
arrived to replace Malta's Neolithic man.
We know them as the people whose beliefs
inspired the building of Malta and Gozo's
megalithic monuments.
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