Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1519725
18 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 APRIL 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Human remains, tombs, WWII The main archaeological discoveries 17 significant archaeological discoveries last year include prehistoric human remains in Naxxar and Xagħra, crushed WWII planes near Luqa, and even a tomb inside the Gozo Ministry and a railway embankment in Attard EVIDENCE of prehistoric bur- ials, including human remains, were uncovered during infra- structural works in an unspeci- fied site in Naxxar in December 2023. Archaeological monitors work- ing under the direction of the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage identified the deep and irregularly shaped pit initially be- lieved to be a silo. But the discov- ery of human remains at the base prompted a more detailed inves- tigation that revealed the remains of three individuals, two of whom were identified as young individ- uals laying in a crouched position and on their side. The burials probably date to the prehistoric period, but spe- cialised scientific testing on the human remains is still needed to provide a more accurate dat- ing of the burials. Apart from the remains, fragments of animal bones, pottery and tools were al- so found. The discovery forms part of some 17 significant finds notified to the heritage watchdog and its archaeological monitors, as listed in it's the Superintendence's an- nual report. Another significant find was that of a burial pit in Triq Gużep- pi Grech in Xagħra, Gozo, during archaeology monitoring works for a private development. The pit contained pottery, including a whole vessel, and a considera- ble number of human bones. The burial pit will be preserved on site and integrated within the devel- opment. The annual report also refers to investigations related to the discovery of a prehistoric bur- ial pit, at Ta' Lablab in Xagħra, where human remains were also found in an oval-shaped pit. The remains consisted mainly of frag- mented and disarticulated bones, which had been placed in "an or- ganised manner" in antiquity. This has been interpreted as an intentional placement of the remains in what was a second- ary funerary burial practice. The pottery found with the human remains dates to the Temple Pe- riod. An amphora holding the human remains of a young child dat- ing back to Punic-Roman times, awaiting further studies since its discovery in Rabat in 2015, was subjected to a CT scan in 2023. The scan will enable the extrac- tion of the human from the vessel and is required to guide archae- ologists during the process of soil and bone extraction. WW2 military remains Large metal scraps were un- covered during works in Luqa for the development of a garden dedicated to persons with de- mentia within the grounds of the St Vincent de Paul hospital. Upon close inspection it turned out that these metal pieces formed part of WWII fighter planes, including a Messerschmitt BF109 fighter shot down over Malta on 1 April 1942 and a Reggiane 2001 fighter aircraft shot down by a Spitfire on 18 May 1942. Remains also included a Spit- fire wing with a bullet-hole in it. Investigations revealed that the remains of these planes were dumped in this location during the war. These artefacts have been transferred to the care of the Malta Aviation Museum for restoration and eventual display. Tombs found in airport works Archeologically monitored works on the new apron in the Malta International Airport during 2022 and 2023 uncov- ered extensive quarries probably dating back to the 18th century. The works also uncovered an extensive network of agricultur- al trenches, cisterns and shallow grooves. Other significant finds include two stretches of cart-ruts and four shaft-chamber tombs. No skeletal remains or sealing slabs were uncovered during their in- vestigation in what could be an indication that the tombs had already been disturbed in the past. As a result of the discoveries the Malta International Airport changed its plans to retain the tombs. Works on site are still ongoing, and further discoveries in rela- tion to agricultural features and water management features are being made as works progress. Railway embankment remains During trenching works for the Prehistoric human remains in Xaghra and Naxxar