Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533839
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 MARCH 2025 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt From cart-ruts to fox trenches: IN 2024, 381 different archaeological features across Malta were discovered through archaeological mon- itoring under the Superintendence for Cultural Her- itage (SCH). These findings included a range of historical struc- tures and artefacts, such as 26 cart ruts, 41 cisterns and water management systems, eight burial cham- bers or tombs, eight shelters, and 46 World War II fox trenches. The remains were uncovered during the archaeological monitoring of 399 different con- struction projects. Cart ruts discovered in Attard, Rabat, and Zejtun Among the notable discoveries were several pairs of cart ruts unearthed in Attard, Rabat, and Zejtun. In Attard, four pairs of cart ruts were found, with three running east-to-west for approximately 28 me- tres. The ruts showed signs of ancient repairs, with worked stone wedges discovered in the ruts' fills, sug- gesting they were maintained for continued use. A Second World War air raid shelter connected to a reservoir was also found on the site. In Rabat, eight distinct cart ruts were found, form- ing a complex network that intersects at various points. The ruts, uncovered during investigations of The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage's 2024 report highlights the discovery of 381 archaeological artefacts during construction monitoring, spanning ancient cart ruts, Roman structures, and an anti-aircraft gun unearthed in a World War II fox trench in Pembroke Cart ruts discovered in Attard CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "To ensure patient safety, at least three consultants were involved in each case," the spokesperson added. MaltaToday also asked the ministry to provide the spe- cific medical conditions that contributed to the decision to approve the terminations. However, the spokesperson declined to comment. Amendments to Malta's re- strictive abortion law were announced in 2023. Origi- nally, Bill 28 had proposed introducing two exceptions that would allow an abortion to take place – if a woman's health was at risk, including her mental health, and if her life was in grave jeopardy. Following public outcry, the government withdrew the exception related to health, keeping only the non-con- troversial part related to the protection of life. The deci- sion placated the concerns of conservative voices but dis- appointed pro-choice cam- paigners, who had hoped for a breakthrough. Prof. Isabel Stabile, who was interviewed by this paper at the beginning of March, ex- pressed disappointment on behalf of the Voice for Choice coalition regarding the ex- clusion of health. "We were very disappointed, as we made considerable efforts, and we believed we were being lis- tened to," she said. "We thought our politicians were hearing our advice be- cause our advice was coming from the ground." Furthermore, Stabile ex- pressed her disagreement with the inclusion of a "med- ical team" to decide on termi- nations. According to the law, the medical team must consist of two gynaecologists or obste- tricians, one of whom would be the professional to car- ry out the termination, and a third specialist in the field related to the health issue af- fecting the woman. "Quite often, this is an emer- gency situation. So, finding three doctors who will agree with you, or finding two other doctors, rather, who will agree with you that it is time to do this and it's time to do it right now, might actually be dan- gerous," Stabile had said. Moreover, she had said the reality is that doctors in Mal- ta were already performing abortions, just under a differ- ent name. "They called them some- thing else, but that's neither here nor there. But those were abortions, and they were being done under their own auspices, you know, as part of good medical practice. So, removing that ability for doctors to make a decision for themselves, I think, is re- ally rather demeaning to the profession." EU Commission to discuss response to abortion petition Meanwhile, MaltaToday is informed that the European Commission will shortly be discussing how to respond af- ter it received a petition with one million signatures calling for safe access to abortion in the European Union. The citizens' initiative My Voice, My Choice has been advocating for safe and acces- sible abortion in the EU. The College of Commis- sioners will be meeting and is obliged to issue a response given that the petition secured one million signatures across the bloc and exceeded the re- quired thresholds in 15 coun- tries – more than double the necessary seven. The initiative, led by the 8th of March Institute, a Slove- nian non-profit organisation for gender equality, calls on the European Commission to propose concrete measures ensuring that all EU citizens, regardless of nationality or residence, have access to safe and legal abortion services. Malta is the only EU member state where abortion is illegal. Nonetheless, abortion re- mains a national competence and any EU-wide legislation would require unanimity. Petition with one million signatures calls for safe access to abortion in the EU