Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535706
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 23 MAY 2025 NEWS The first Maltese: How it all A new book, entitled "The First MALTESE: How It All Began In GOZO," offers an extensive and well-deserved exploration of the pioneers of Maltese civi- lization, has been released, pro- viding the first comprehensive treatment of their culture and achievements—with a promi- nent focus on Gozo. This groundbreaking study arrives more than 30 years after the discovery of significant ear- ly Neolithic finds at Tac-Caw- la, Victoria, Gozo, which changed the understanding of Maltese prehistory. The book shines a light on Gozo's impor- tant role during the first wave of immigration around 5800 BCE, a date first proposed by researchers in 1993. Gozo is revealed to have been a multicultural crossroads where settlers navigated be- tween diverse cultural spheres, including the southern and eastern coasts of Sicily, south- ern Italy, and the Adriatic. The findings are the result of thor- ough fieldwork conducted by Dr. Adrian van der Blom, who has extensively studied the ear- ly Neolithic period. Additionally, the book intro- duces a new periodization of Malta's long early Neolithic, beginning with the Tac-Caw- la phase (6000/5800-5200 BCE) and involving the Sko- rba phase. This builds on the findings first presented in a 1992 book, which also aimed to preserve the Tac-Cawla site. In that work, the researchers re- futed common misconceptions about the early settlers, such as the idea that they arrived "accidentally" on rafts, lived in caves, or were "primitive." In- stead, the book highlights the settlers' sophisticated choices in selecting settlement sites, as well as their careful coopera- tion with nature. The settlers' pottery is also explored in the book, reflecting their holistic worldview about nature—an understanding that was unraveled by Dr. Veronica Veen through symbolic anthro- pological analysis. Her concept of Neolithic clustering, origi- nally discussed in her updated Goddess of Malta in 2019, is further applied to the imagery of these early Maltese people. Thanks to innovative meth- ods and perspectives, the book offers a fresh and more nu- anced view of Neolithic cul- tures, breaking free from the traditional, one-dimensional interpretations. It also serves as an exercise in critical, in- dependent archaeology, with Chapter 2 summarizing the action research that was con- ducted during the Tac-Cawla affair. Moreover, the book empha- sizes the relevance of the early Neolithic people's conception of nature as a vast, intercon- nected network of life—includ- ing humans—especially in light of the current ecological crisis. The research also uncovers the surprisingly consistent and re- fined pictorial language used by these early settlers, which represents the first known form of women's art in Malta. This new study provides a much-needed reassessment of Malta's early Neolithic period and highlights Gozo's central role in shaping the island's pre- historic legacy. The Malta Book Festiival The Malta Book Festival will feature several exciting events to celebrate the launch of The First Maltese: How It All Began in Gozo by Veronica Veen. The book, published by Inanna Pub- lishers, will be officially launched by the author on Thursday, Oc- tober 19, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Is-Sala Fil-Pjazza, Tal-Qa- li. This festive event will mark the beginning of a series of relat- ed activities at the Festival. Event Highlights: Book Launch The official launch of The First Maltese: How It All Be- gan in Gozo will take place at the Malta Book Festival on Thursday, October 19, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The event will be held at Is-Sala Fil-Pjaz- za, Tal-Qali, and will be hosted by the author, Veronica Veen. More details here. Talk by Veronica Veen On Wednesday, October 18, at 6:00 PM, Veronica Veen will deliver a 30-minute talk about her 35 years of cultural-anthro- pological fieldwork in Gozo, focusing on women's history, their life experiences, and the tradition of oral storytelling. This talk will draw from her published works, including Fe- male Images of Malta (1994), Goddess, Giantess, Farmeress (1994), The Maltese Cinderella and the Women's Storytelling Tradition (2017), and Lucija Tells... Women's History and Experience of Life in Gozo, Malta (2020). More details here. A new book offers a comprehensive exploration of Malta's early Neolithic period, highlighting Gozo's pivotal role in the island's prehistoric development. With fresh research and innovative methods, the book provides a deeper understanding of the first settlers and their sophisticated culture, challenging long-standing misconceptions about their way of life. Ggantija Temples (Heritage Malta)