Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524813
10 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 2 AUGUST 2024 CULTURE THE Maltese Islands proudly claim, and rightly so, to have a rich cultural heritage. Slogans such as "Malta: home to 8,000 years of history", posters depict- ing the silhouettes of Valletta, and traditional Luzzu boats, among others, consistently em- phasize the high concentration of archaeological sites on land. These claims are fully justi- fied. Given the Maltese Islands' size and historical wealth, these assertions are well support- ed. However, when it comes to underwater heritage, it is equally important to note that it is indeed very rich and, more importantly, highly represent- ative of the various periods of Maltese history. Our islands have always relied on maritime traffic through- out their thousands of years of habitation. The remnants of ships that sank in Maltese waters over the centuries – in- cluding the cargo of trading vessels from the Phoenician, Roman, and Medieval periods, and ships wrecked in storms or wars – tell as much about col- lective history as the artefacts found on land. A significant achievement in this endeavour is the es- tablishment of a Deepwater Archaeological Park off Xlen- di, in Gozo. Designated as an Archaeological Zone at Sea in 2020, this unique park encom- passes a rectangular area of sig- nificant archaeological value, covering a total of 67,000m². It is located approximately 540 metres to the southwest of Ras il-Bajda and the coastal watch tower of Xlendi Bay. The park's depth ranges be- tween 105 and 115 metres, where the seabed consists of fine silt and sand punctuated by a series of rocky outcrops formed by mesophotic reefs. Around these outcrops are concentrations of archaeolog- ical objects, mostly amphorae but also urns, bowls and oth- er ceramic objects. It is highly likely that more archaeological remains are buried in the sedi- ment, based on the continuous deposition of sediment from the Xlendi valley and the pres- ence of partially buried objects. The quantity of homogenous material suggests the presence of at least one shipwreck, data- ble to the third century BC. The underwater site at the bottom of the sea has been mapped and documented by Heritage Malta's Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, with the support of the University of Malta and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. The arte- facts found at this site are being preserved underwater, in line with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwa- ter Cultural Heritage to which Malta is a signatory. While there are no plans to raise these objects from the seabed, the location of the artefacts, their type and condition are being mapped and documented. This unique park highlights the submerged deposits off Xlendi and enhances Gozo's cultural heritage as well as its tourism offerings. The Xlen- di coastal watch tower, under which the Xlendi marine park is located, houses a permanent exhibition. Ceramic artefacts datable to the third century BC were recovered from below the tower in the early 1960s and are now exhibited in the recently restored tower. The physical display provides a bet- ter understanding of the park. This site can also be appre- ciated by those who may nev- er be able to visit in person, as they can explore the park virtu- ally on www.underwatermalta. org. This is an interactive site where anyone in the world can experience free virtual explo- ration of nearly 20 underwater sites, including the mentioned park, around Malta and Gozo. The public can also explore the park through Heritage Malta's Dive Into History 360 experience. This outreach pro- gramme, accessible through the Heritage Malta website, is free of charge for all schools and other associations. The park, sponsored by the Malta Airport Foundation, is the result of a collaborative ef- fort between Heritage Malta's Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, the Univer- sity of Malta, and the Munxar Local Council. From land to sea: The rich cultural tapestry of the Maltese islands