Doesn't everyone love a little mystery? Well, Malta has tons of them! Ranging from mysterious locations to unexplained happenings, there's a lot on the Maltese islands to raise your hairs on end and have you scratching your chin.
1. The megalithic temples
Although UNESCO recognises only the six best-preserved as World Heritage Sites, the Maltese Islands have at least twenty megalithic temples scattered across just 316km² - that's a lot! Together with a large number of other prehistoric sites, several dating almost 6,000 years, Malta has one of the highest densities of archaeological remains and some of the oldest in the world. We have made a lot of assumptions based on the findings, but how and why these massive structures were actually built (and with such precise astrological alignment at that) remains largely guess work.
2. The elongated skulls
‘Serpent priests’ or ‘alien skulls’? While this may sound far-fetched, what is sure is that the elongated skulls found at the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum are not human. They lack cranial knitting lines, thus setting aside any proposal of artificial cranial deformation. To add to the mystery, Heritage Malta, the authority responsible for Malta’s prehistoric heritage, removed them from public view in 1985 and only researchers can now see them by special permission. The mysterious skulls are of world interest, then why are they being kept hidden?
3. The lost children of the Hypogeum
Could there be any truth to the tales of children disappearing in underground passages at the Hypogeum and of strange giant humanoids dwelling there? The National Geographic Magazine reported the story in the 1940 August issue, no. 78. British Government employee Lois Jessup recounted a very detailed anecdote. Yet local authorities dismiss it all as legend or myth. If there is any truth in those reports, what could be the reason for the cover-ups?
4. The mysterious rock cut caves
L-Ghar u Casa, depicted above, is a well-known, relatively modern cave dwelling located in the rock face overlooking one of Mellieha's valleys. But the sheer number of cave dwellings in Mellieha is enormous and one of the cave complexes indicates a large community living together there at some point in time. Those caves and the man-made structures (such as a staircase) look ancient, judging by the weathering. And while researching, no information about them could be found anywhere. One would almost think they didn't exist, until we visited and documented what we found. How old are these cave-dwellings really? Who lived there?
5. Curious carvings in the countryside
Ancient cave dwellings are not the only mysteries you might stumble upon in the Maltese countryside. You'll come across much evidence of human intervention in the form of holes in the ground (Punic tombs, we're told), parallel grooves running from nowhere to nowhere (cart ruts, we're told) and even trays cut into the coast (saltpans that are still used to this day). The cart ruts are perhaps the most mysterious, as none of the theories seem to hold water...excuse the pun, as many so-called cart ruts actually run straight into the sea!
6. Rock cut stairs leading into the sea
The cart ruts are not the only mysterious thing you may find running into the sea. There are a number of rock cut staircases scattered around the island that also mysteriously provide access from high cliffs into the water. Such examples are the stairs at Blata tal-Melh, which use is remembered as related to a salt production business, and the stairs at Cirkewwa in Mellieha, which remain a complete mystery. Some have suggested that they might be related to smuggling, but why then decorate the stairs with a visible arch? Any thoughts on what these stairs leading into rock and rubble on the Maltese coast might be?
7. The bones in the Church Fortress of St Gregory
When Grezzju Vella stumbled upon a secret passage way in St Gregory's Church in Zejtun, the find was reported in national newspapers. But since 15 April 1969, nobody has come to any reasonable conclusion as to why that secret passage way was full of human bones and a curious selection of objects, such as a single high-heeled wooden shoe, part of a chain-mail armour vest, a Byzantine cross, and bits of pottery and coins. While speculation exists that the people were trapped or 'buried' there, the objects and strange lack of proper investigation offer nothing but more mystery.
Malta is also not short of urban legends that lead one to wonder the source of those tales and what actually happened. One other great mystery is that attributed to the existence of the Lost City of Atlantis, which is often attributed to Malta.
Perhaps, apart from being promoted as a sea and sun destination, and a history and culture destination, Malta should also make the most of its mysterious locations, unexplained happenings, ghost stories, more ghost stories and urban legends - there's plenty here for those who love mystery!