Xagħra Circle

Have you ever wondered how the Neolithic inhabitants of Malta percieved and dealt with the inevitability of death? Some of the answers to that question have been yielded by the Xagħra Circle burial site, located just 400m to the southwest of the majestic Ġgantija Temples.

Unlike the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum which was hewn in live Globigerina rock, the Xagħra Circe revealed the use of a concentration of natural caves that were modified to accomodate entire generations of burials.

Owing to the friable nature of the rock in the area, the roofs of the caverns suffered a major collapse, reducing the entire site to the large hollow cavity visible today.

The site was excavated between 1987 and 1994 by an Anglo-Maltese team of archaeologists. The rich repertoire of finds discovered at the Xagħra Circle is what makes it a truly exceptional site.

Besides a large concentration of human remains belonging to successive generations of burials, archaeologists also discovered a vast quantity of grave goods. These consisted of ceramics, tools, ornaments and miniature statuettes, many of which provide different interpretations of the human form. A few individual examples from the latter group have garnered worldwide attention for their unparalleled workmanship and now rank high amongst the most accomplished artistic works in European prehistory.

*Attention: Access to the Xagħra Circle and the precincts of the site features uneven terrain that is highly hazardous to individuals with mobility issues. Children under the age of 8 must be closely supervised by a guardian and will only be allowed access up to the main entry point of the site. Safety instructions by supervising personnel must be adhered to at all times.