Tas-Silġ’s fascinating history outlined in six guided tours

24/03/2022

The fascinating history of the archaeological complex of Tas-Silġ – the site with the longest known use on the Maltese Islands – will be outlined during a morning of guided tours on Sunday 10th April. Tas-Silġ is not usually accessible to the public.

Spanning more than 4000 years, the remains at Tas-Silġ will take participants on a journey covering most of the phases of Maltese archaeology. The site is mostly renowned for the Phoenician-Punic sanctuary in honour of the goddess Astarte, which was turned into the famed sanctuary of Hera-Juno in the Roman period. But what was there before and after this sanctuary was constructed?

Excavations at Tas-Silġ in the 1960s by the Italian Archaeological Mission and the Museums Department brought to light the traces of a Late Neolithic megalithic temple which was preserved and re-utilised through time, becoming the very heart of the Phoenician-Punic, and later Roman, sanctuary. In the last three decades, Heritage Malta, the University of Malta’s Department of Classics and Archaeology, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Italian Archaeological Mission have used modern excavation methods and techniques to unravel more of the site’s intriguing history. The latest excavations in 2020 and 2021 revealed further evidence for the use of the site in prehistory.

Tas-Silġ was also used after the Roman period, when the courtyard of the Roman sanctuary was roofed over and turned into a Christian basilica, complete with a baptismal font – the first evidence of a church built on the Maltese Islands. This was the last moment in history when the site was used for religious purposes. Eventually the church was abandoned, many structures were demolished, and the land started being used for agriculture.

The six guided tours on the 10th of April will be held every half an hour between 9.00am and noon. There will be two tours in Maltese (at 9.00am and 10.30am), two tours in English (at 9.30am and 11.00am) and two in Italian (at 10.00am and 11.30am), through a joint effort by archaeologists from Heritage Malta, the University of Malta and the Italian Archaeological Mission.

Tickets will only be available at the door on a first come first served basis and entry will be strictly by tour. Each tour is limited to a total of 20 people. Ticket prices are as follows: Adults, seniors and students – €5; Heritage Malta members and children under 12 – free of charge. All proceeds will go towards Heritage Malta’s conservation project at Tas-Silġ.

Tas-Silġ is a bee-keeping site. Attendees should refrain from wearing perfume, scented oils and shower products and excessive sunblock. Attendees are also requested to keep away from the bee-keeping area and not to swat bees.

This event is being held with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Embassy in Malta and the Department of Classics and Archaeology of the University of Malta.

STQARRIJA BIL-MALTI/ PRESS RELEASE IN MALTESE