Protect our archaeological heritage
As Malta seeks a place among the global guardians of archaeological sites, it is pouring concrete on its own, says Dawn Adrienne Saliba
Two weeks ago, Malta submitted its candidacy to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, proof, the culture minister claimed, of “concrete commitment” to safeguarding cultural heritage” – “concrete” being the operative word.
As Malta seeks a place among the global guardians of archaeological sites, it is pouring concrete on its own.
Last week, thousands at Ġustizzja għal Artna marched against Malta’s failure to safeguard the environment. One need only look at the landscape surrounding the Santa Verna Temple to see this country’s “concrete commitment”.
Concrete has indeed been poured. Dreadful stables now scar once-pristine land 200m west of the temple. More threatens the Ta’ Lablab caves and Neolithic settlement 230m north. Other illegal developments continue unabated.
The Għajn Lukin plateau preserves traces of every Neolithic phase back to 5400 BC, including settlements millennia before Ġgantija. Though few megaliths remain visible, FRAGSUS excavations revealed a buried five-apsed temple. Yet, areas filled with vital archaeological information around it risk being bulldozed into oblivion.
How can a government that demolishes prehistoric landscapes claim authority over other countries’ sites?
Proposed ‘reforms’ to planning laws (Bills 143 & 144) would strip citizens, NGOs and even courts of the power to halt such abuses. These ‘reforms’ do not improve the environment – they massacre it.
The situation in the Ta’ Lablab area is beyond comprehension. In 2012, a Superintendence of Cultural Heritage officer warned parts of it overlapped the temple’s buffer zone and should be protected. Yet, in 2022, the authorities approved the demolition of its ancient cave system for a €5K ‘heritage gain’ settlement.
Heritage ‘gain’? This is heritage ‘loss’. Money cannot replace this ancient landscape.
UNESCO should be chastising Malta- Dawn Adrienne Saliba
Worse, in 2023 a Xagħra resident discovered a half-bulldozed pit filled with human bones with others scattered around Ta’ Lablab. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage verified her finds, identifying a Temple Period burial containing seven skulls, mostly children’s.
Environmental Planning and Review Tribunal (EPRT) documents show the archaeological monitor failed to report these remains, violating cultural heritage laws, yet appears to have faced no consequences.
Shockingly, three construction applications, (PA/5171/23, PA/3174/23, and PA/02771/25), totalling 19 maisonettes, jacuzzis and a basement parking garage –steps from the pit, caves and buffer zone – were granted.
Meanwhile, Malta hosts the European Heritage Heads Forum, speaking loftily about “preventive archaeology”. In the UNESCO candidacy speech, the minister praised “multilateralism”, even as they concentrate power unilaterally, attempting to strip power from courts and citizens.
A poster promoting a protest taking place on November 1.You cannot market yourself as a protector of ancient sites on one hand while simultaneously granting permits that destroy archaeological sites and strip citizens of the power to contest those developments on the other. Is this the governance UNESCO should elevate?
UNESCO should be chastising Malta and holding her accountable for the destruction of archaeological and natural sites, not rewarding her with a prestigious position.
Pope Francis wrote: “Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life... This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse.” Pope Leo adds: “Everyone in society, through nongovernmental organisations and advocacy groups, must put pressure on governments to implement more rigorous regulations, procedures and controls. Only then will it be possible to mitigate the damage done to the environment”.
This government does not take the popes’ words to heart.
As Jane Goodall, the world-renowned scientist who recently passed, bluntly warned us: “Intelligent species do not destroy their only home.”
We ask the government to stop pouring concrete on ours.
Please join the call to protect the Santa Verna Archaeological Landscape. Sign the parliamentary petition (deadline October 13) and attend MALTA-ARCH’s 1 November ‘Protect this Land’ Protest-Performance at the Santa Verna Temple.
Dawn Adrienne Saliba is a Maltese-American writer and researcher from New York City, specialising in archaeology and performance-ritual studies.