Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1270964
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JULY 2020 11 CULTURE Newly-discovered cart ruts in Attard at risk of being reburied out of sight of the public A new set of well-preserved cart ruts has been discovered outside the Government Farm at Wied Inċita, in Mdina Road, Attard. The cart ruts are a fine example of these enigmatic features which characterise the Maltese land- scape, and which may date from the prehistoric Bronze Age. This particular stretch of cart ruts is especially significant be- cause, firstly, they are the only known cart ruts in the Attard area. But they are also an excellent ex- ample of how ancient cart ruts of- ten appear to run along the same route as modern roads. Addition- ally, the different types of profile that they show suggest that they were in use for several centuries. The cart ruts were discovered during the preparatory works for the Central Link project. After being carefully exposed and re- corded under the direction of the Superintendence of Cultural Her- itage, they are now at risk of being hidden again from public sight, beneath the newly widened road. The Archaeological Society Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa are very concerned that Malta's pre- cious and non-renewable archae- ological resources continue to be eroded and mismanaged because of ill-prepared projects that are designed and committed to before a thorough understanding of their archaeological impact. Last Thursday's decision to ap- prove another major road-widen- ing project at Għeriexem, Rabat, before a thorough archaeological survey, against the advice of ERA and of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, will inevitably have similar consequences. The Attard cart ruts are located along a length of the Rabat road which is particularly wide, and characterised by very wide pave- ments, centre strips and flower beds, all of which should facilitate the realignment of the road to avoid going over the cart ruts. The Archaeological Society Mal- ta and Din l-Art Ħelwa strongly urge Infrastructure Malta, in close consultation with the Superin- tendence of Cultural Heritage, to commit serious efforts to re- designing the road alignment in order to allow the cart ruts to re- main visible and enjoyable. The right of the public to enjoy archaeological resources is an im- portant value enshrined in Mal- tese law and international con- ventions. It would be ironic and unaccept- able if a project funded by Maltese and European taxpayers fails to make every possible effort to inte- grate this goal in its designs. Attard Cart Ruts with satellite Attard Cart Ruts Malta's new radio station to launch this summer SIMON Lumsden has been ap- pointed Managing Editor of Malta's Smooth, the new radio station due to launch this sum- mer. Simon is currently the Head of Content at Keen, one of Malta's leading marketing agencies, and now takes on the additional duties of running the new digital radio service. He was the long-running morning show presenter on 89.7 Bay and founded Malta's Magic in 2004, having previ- ously held management roles at Sky News, Virgin Radio and the GWR Radio Network in the UK. Sergio D'Amico, managing director of Malta's DAB+ radio operator Digi B Networks, said: "Over two decades, Simon has overseen an incredible period of growth in radio listening in the Maltese Islands. "He is one of Europe's most talented radio program- mers and I am delighted that such an experienced and for- ward-thinking media executive has joined us at this pivotal mo- ment in digital broadcasting. "Simon has a pioneering track record of success in attracting audiences in Malta and Gozo and his enthusiasm and cre- dentials will reap dividends." Malta's Smooth will launch next month, promising a relax- ing music mix of songs listen- ers love from Adele to ABBA, and Ed Sheeran to Elton John. The station will initially be available on DAB+ digital radio and online.