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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JUNE 2022 4 CULTURE A sunrise performance and a sunset experience among events marking European Archaeology Days HERITAGE Malta is marking European Archaeology Days with several exciting events between the 17th and the 20th of June. European Archaeology Days are celebrated simulta- neously across Europe to raise awareness and familiarise Eu- ropean audiences with all as- pects of archaeology. The first local event is a pub- lic lecture about urban archae- ology and a collection of fine tableware. Dating back to the 17th and 18th century, this col- lection was discovered during the demolition of the Auberge d'Auvergne (where the Law Courts are currently located) in 1965 and is now housed at the National Museum of Archaeol- ogy in Valletta. The lecture will be held on Friday 17th June at 6.00pm, at the mentioned mu- seum. It will be delivered in English by Christian Mifsud and Nath- aniel Cutajar, Heritage Malta's Principal Curators for Research and Documentation of Histor- ic Buildings and for Medieval Archaeology respectively. Ad- mission is free of charge and no booking is required. On Satur- day 18th June, the public will have the opportunity to view the Domvs Romana from a dif- ferent perspective. Although the Domvs is known as a high- class residence, excavations carried out in 1920 unearthed the remains of numerous small Roman houses built along the road which indicate humbler homes and other social classes. Morevover, in 1940, the Dom- vs Romana served as a tem- porary home for a family who moved in it from Tarxien due to the war. The tour Domvs Romana: Houses Beyond the House – A Residence, A Home explores the Domvs Romana's function as an accommoda- tion used by different people through various circumstances in history. Attendees will also be treated to a sneak peek in- to the ongoing excavations at the back of this ancient site. There will be a tour in Maltese at 10.00am and another one in English at 12.30pm. Tickets (adults – €20, children – €15, members – €15) are available at all Heritage Malta museums and sites, or online on shop. heritagemalta.org. Another event will be held at Ta' Bistra Catacombs, which are not usu- ally open to the public. On Saturday 18th June, from 7.00pm till 11.00pm, visitors are welcome to explore this site which comprises the larg- est set of tombs and catacombs accessible beyond the confines of our ancient capital city. Re- freshments may be purchased on site. Tickets will only be available at the door and will be priced as follows: Adults, sen- iors and students – €3; children and Heritage Malta members – free. Heritage Malta senior and student passports cannot be used for this event. Mnajdra will also be buzzing with activity very early in the morning on the 18th and 19th of June. KorMalta and ŻfinMa- lta will be performing Ola Gjei- lo's renowned Sunrise Mass at this prehistoric site which lends itself beautifully to the execution of this moving com- position. The audience will also be able to observe the Summer Solstice phenomenon in a truly unique manner. Tickets for this event are lim- ited. Prices are €45 for adults, children, seniors and students, and €35 for Heritage Malta members. Tickets are available from all Heritage Malta muse- ums and sites, and online on shop.heritagemalta.org. The performance starts at 6.00am and ticket holders are to gather half an hour before outside the Ħaġar Qim Visitor Centre. The final events for this year's Eu- ropean Archaeology Days will be held on the 20th of June to celebrate the Summer Solstice. There will be two simultane- ous guided tours – one at Mna- jdra and another at Ħaġar Qim – during which visitors will ex- perience the beauty of the first rays of the rising sun lighting up these sites as they have done at the beginning of summer for thousands of years. Tickets for each tour (€30 for adults and €20 for Heritage Malta mem- bers) may be purchased from all Heritage Malta sites and muse- ums, or online on shop.herit- agemalta.org. Ticket holders are to gather at 5.30am outside the Ħaġar Qim Visitor Centre.