Various types of limestone make up a large part of the Maltese geological formation, so it’s no wonder that the main megalithic temples on the islands, such as Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Ggantija in Gozo, were made from this type of rock.

The external walls of these temples were usually built of Coralline Limestone, ‘Zonqor’ in Maltese, which is the oldest exposed rock layer of Malta and high in hardness. The softer Globigerina Limestone, called ‘Franka’ in Maltese, was typically used for decorative elements within the temples, such as symbolic carvings.

Since prehistoric times, Globigerina Limestone has constituted the majority of building material used in Malta. Exposed to the air, the stone takes on a rosy colour, which browns with the formation of a protective patina. This explains the colour of most buildings in Malta – from the prehistoric temples to modern buildings seen today!

Which of the megalithic temples have you visited so far?