Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1262267
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JUNE 2020 6 CULTURE The first rays of summer from Mnadjra Temples OUR prehistoric sites have accom- panied the people of these islands for thousands of years. Their en- during presence was significant during our recent isolation. With the gradual lifting of public health measures, Heritage Malta offered the opportunity to the public to greet the first rays of summer from the Mnajdra Temples in Qrendi on Saturday, 20 June. At sunrise on the first day of sum- mer, the sun can be seen rising in particular alignment with these sites. Although it is not known for certain whether these orientations were intentional, they are so sys- tematic that this is very probable. In prehistoric agricultural socie- ties, observation of the movement of the stars, the moon and the sun could have been related to the changing seasons and to the times of planting and harvesting crops. Tickets: €25 per person (€15 Heritage Malta members). Limit- ed tickets are available online or from the Heritage Malta museum and sites which are opening during weekends: Fort St Elmo, Fort St Angelo, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Temples, Tarxien Temples and Ġgantija Temples, and the Nation- al Museum of Archaeology. Meeting Point near Ħaġar Qim Visitor Centre was at 5.30am. At- tendees were asked to wear a face mask and respect social distancing. Live streaming of the Summer Solstice was enabled from Ħaġar Qim Temples, starting at 5.45am on Heritage Malta's Facebook Page. The live stream, presented in English with Maltese subtitles, will be forming part of the Europe- an Archaeology Days programme taking place between the 19 and 21 June 2020. HOW did children live during the Ne- olithic Period? How did they look? Did they wash themselves? What did they eat? How did they spend the day? What did they wear? Where did they sleep? Is it true that Neolithic people tended to break their toes? As of this week, Heritage Malta will be presenting a new initiative which will be focusing on how we think children lived in the Neolithic Peri- od. This initiative will consist of five short features which will be shared on Heritage Malta's Facebook page. The features will focus on cleanliness and health, clothes and hairstyles, educa- tion and work, food and how it was cooked, and evening entertainment. Each feature will be followed by an ac- tivity which the children can carry out at home. Check out Heritage Malta's Face- book page to learn more and partic- ipate. Stone-age child's play