Last month, while preparing the area for a new potable water line, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) uncovered a remarkable discovery - a rock-cut chamber that, it has now transpired, is part of an ancient Punic tomb complex!

In a collaboration between the SCH, the Foundation for Medical Services, and Infrastructure Malta, efforts are now underway to ensure the preservation of this historically significant find. Further investigation revealed that the tomb, dating back roughly 2,300 years, consisted of three burial chambers connected by a central shaft. Remarkably, the entrances to these chambers were still sealed with their original stone slabs, a rare and extraordinary state of preservation for a tomb of this age.

Inside the first chamber, archaeologists found skeletal remains and a collection of funerary objects. Through narrow gaps in the slabs, similar remains and artefacts were visible in the other two chambers, confirming the tomb's Punic origins and later continued use during the Early Roman period.

Excavations revealed the tomb contained both inhumations (burials) and cremated remains stored in urns. All human remains and artefacts have been carefully transferred to the SCH Laboratory for cleaning, conservation, and further study.

Ongoing analysis of the objects and osteological examination of the bones will offer valuable insights into the individuals buried in the tomb, including details about their age, sex, health, and any evidence of trauma or disease. The SCH also aims to secure funding for advanced studies, such as carbon dating and ancient DNA analysis, to deepen our understanding of this ancient community’s history.

Such discoveries provide a reminder of the country's rich history, and how we could be walking over centuries of history everyday!

Are you curious to learn more about this exciting discovery?