Have you ever heard of Wied Filep? Neither had we, until recently. Wied Filep is a valley in the limits of Mosta and Naxxar, with the stunning Wied il-Ghasel right next to it. It was what is referred to as a small hanging valley that discharged its contents into Wied il-Ghasel.

The dolmens

The area surrounding the valley, now Santa Margherita, is said to be an ancient burial ground and still has a few remains in a patch among the now-residential area. The remains including dolmens, which date back to Malta’s Bronze Age.

These monuments were linked to funeral rituals, and according to Facebook page Prehistoric Malta, one dolmen has a “dug out chamber beneath it.” How cool is that? These dolmens, just like any others you’ll see around the islands, have beautiful and unobstructed views, leading many to believe that the location and position was strategically chosen.

The area was, and still is, one that offers peace and tranquillity, so it comes as no surprise that the burial ground was erected here.

Some have speculated that the dolmens were once part of the nearby Wied Filep, but since the exact traces of the valley are unclear, this claim is debatable. Wied Filep has a tale of its own to tell, and quite the rollercoaster one, too!

The Wied Filep saga

Wied Filep was a small valley in the Wied il-Ghasel area but has been destroyed by quarrying activity over the years. Other than that, there isn’t much historical information before the quarrying development began. In 2005, a restoration plan for the area was ordered, in which environmental consultants gave a detailed report following various discussions and studies.

“Over the years, quarrying activities have eliminated Wied Filep, severely impacted Wied il-Ghasel, and created a scar that is readily visible from a wide area to the north,” it read. “Though generally agreed, the plan was not formally approved and several years elapsed,” a source told us.

In the meantime, the MEPA was split into the now Planning Authority (PA) and Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), and the plan was changed a number of times following discussions with different directors and chairmen. A revised application has been submitted and while ERA have agreed in principle, it still needs to be approved by the PA Board for restoration to be implemented.

Malta, Prehistory and Antiquity / Facebook, Malta, Prehistory and Antiquity / Facebook