Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1519725
19 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 APRIL 2024 NEWS WWII planes and wells: discoveries of 2023 installation of a storm-water cul- vert in a main road in Attard, a stretch of dressed masonry laid out to form a low wall running parallel to the street, was identi- fied by an archaeological monitor carrying out constant surveil- lance of the works under direc- tion of the Superintendence. The remains were identified as forming part of the historic railway embankment which was in use in the early 20th centu- ry when Malta had a short-lived train service. The embankment stretches approximately 28m in length and is constructed by me- dium-sized rectangular limestone blocks. The Superintendence and the entity responsible for these trenching works reached a suita- ble compromise to accommodate the necessary services whilst pre- serving the discovered feature. Cave tomb in the Ministry for Gozo Building Renovation works at the Minis- try for Gozo premises uncovered a burial site possibly dating back to the Classical (Roman) period. The tomb consists of a shaft and four-irregularly shaped cave-like chambers similar to burial re- mains reported by Antonio An- netto Caruana in his book "An- cient Pagan Tombs and Christian Cemeteries in the Islands of Mal- ta" published in 1898. The materi- al found within the chambers in- cluded pottery and ceramic pieces dating to the Knights and British period which indicate that the site was disturbed by previous inter- ventions. Investigation works on this tomb are still ongoing. Mgarr: 9m-deep well A 9m-deep groundwater well as- sociated with water run-off chan- nels was also discovered during works on a private development in the corner between Triq l-Iskorba and Triq l-Imqades in Mġarr. The well was connected to a se- ries of rock-cut rooms accessed through a flight of stairs. The stairs lead down to an antecham- ber opening into three large un- derground rooms and two unfin- ished corridors. One of the rooms connects to the well through a rock-cut window which seems to have been cut to facilitate the re- trieval of water. The function of these under- ground rooms cannot be con- firmed but are likely to have been used in conjunction with a farm- house in the area. The Superin- tendence instructed that these features are to be preserved and incorporated in the proposed de- velopment. Medieval flooring and Roman pottery Other discoveries include a large room, characterised by high-pointed arches and 'ċanga- tura' flooring, stylistically dating back to the Late Medieval period, discovered during works in Gudja. A cistern of two interconnected apses dating back to the Roman period was uncovered during works in Iklin along with several rectangular rock-cut trenches. Other remains dating to Roman times were uncovered in works in Triq it-Tiġrija, Marsa. These in- clude a large rectangular quarry, a medium-sized pit, large ashlar blocks and a culvert. Pottery vessel remains were also found in Naxx- ar during archaeological monitor- ing works for the laying of services in the limits of Salini. The Roman pottery includes a large bowl with a lid, a small plate and jug found in an agricultural trench. Some of the vessels had been squashed with the weight of the tarmac and road buildup over the years. The vessels are in the process of being analysed, conserved, and where possible re-constructed. The remains of a catacomb and cistern were uncovered during works in Triq San Tumas in Ra- bat. Other tombs dating to classical times was found during archeo- logically monitored works in a ru- ral area on the outskirts of Rabat known as Tas-Salib and in Triq Luqa Briffa in Żejtun in a buffer zone for a Roman Villa. The re- moval of modern tiles and screed in a townhouse in Bishop Labini Street in Rabat, also yielded pot- tery, seashells and animal bone in further evidence that this area formed part of the residential area of the ancient town. Dragon's teeth relocated The Superintendence has al- so supervised the relocation of a World War II defensive struc- ture known as 'Dragon's Teeth' at Golden Bay in Għajn Tuffieħa. The pyramidical structures made of concrete with iron bar spikes were utilised as a defensive meas- ure during WWII. The 'teeth' were originally installed underwa- ter and along the shores to func- tion as obstacles to stall an am- phibian invasion. These had to be moved to a greater depth outside of the main beach for safety rea- sons while still safeguarding this heritage artifact. Below left: 'Dragon's teeth' at Golden Bay and (below) railway remains uncovered in Triq il-Linja, Attard CT scan of amphora with a child inside it