New Italian ambassador visits Tas-Silg, San Pawl Milqi

The Italian Ambassador, Dr Alvise Memmo, last week visited the Italian excavation projects currently under way at the two archaeological sites of Tas-Silg (Marsaxlokk) and of San Pawl Milqi (Burmarrad).

Ambassador Memmo was accompanied by Anthony Pace, director of the Museums Department, Professor Rossignani and Professor Amadasi Guzzo of the Italian archaeological mission in Malta.

Both sites were originally excavated in the 1960s by the Italian mission at the invitation of the Maltese government. Since then the Italian mission's interest at both sites has never wavered. A number of archaeological reports, academic and popular publications have since appeared.

In 1995 the mission was launched afresh on the initiative of the late Professor Antonia Ciasca in close collaboration with the Museums Department. The new study programme is focused on archaeological investigations as well as conservation.

This programme of works is entirely funded by the Italian government and various organisations. A critical contribution to the current research programme is a generous grant of e187,000 provided by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cover operation in the years 2001 to 2003.

Additional funding is being provided directly by the three Italian universities of La Sapienza (Rome), Lecce and of Milan (La Cattolica) as well as by the Italian Ministry for University Studies. An additional grant has also been obtained for this last year from the Banca d'Italia.

The Museums Department has over the last five years carried out a number of important infrastructural interventions on site through the provision of 24-hour security on site, the introduction of power and water as well as other logistical improvements.

Ambassador Memmo was pleased to note the positive effect being achieved by the close collaboration that exists between Italian scientific and funding agencies with the local cultural superintendence, primarily with the Museums Department. The Missione Archaeologica Italiana and the Department both expressed the desire to see such constructive collaboration extend itself to other Italian and Maltese academic and scientific institutions.