Groundbreaking! New discovery reveals Malta was reached by hunter-gatherers over 7,000 years ago

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery is rewriting the history of human settlement in Malta. Contrary to long-held beliefs that the islands were only inhabited following the advent of agriculture, new research has revealed that hunter-gatherers reached Malta more than 7,000 years ago - over a millennium before the arrival of the first farmers.

The findings, recently published in Nature, are the result of a collaborative study led by Professor Eleanor Scerri of the Max Planck Institute and the University of Malta, alongside Professor Nicholas Vella of the University of Malta.

Their work provides the earliest evidence of long-distance seafaring in the Mediterranean, suggesting that these early humans crossed over 100 kilometres of open sea, without sails, possibly using dugout canoes.

Reaching Malta would have required advanced navigation skills, relying on sea currents, stars, and visible landmarks. Even in summer, parts of the journey would have taken place in complete darkness.

Excavations at Għar Latnija cave in Mellieħa revealed a range of artifacts, including stone tools, hearths, and food remains. The presence of red deer, tortoises, and large extinct birds points to a rich and varied diet. Remarkably, remains of seals, groupers, crabs, sea urchins, and thousands of cooked shellfish highlight the community’s marine foraging skills.