Temple and Tomb: Maltese prehistoric wonders in New York

Heritage Malta will be participating in an exhibition in New York featuring a number of artefacts from the National Museum of Archaeology.

Heritage Malta’s National Museum of Archaeology will be participating in an exhibition “Temple and Tomb: Prehistoric Malta 3600-2500 BC’, at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World of New York University.

This is the first time ever that an exhibition on Malta’s unique Neolithic culture is being held in the United States. The exhibition focuses specifically on the Temple period of Malta and includes prestigious artefacts from Ħaġar Qim, the Tarxien Temples, the Hypogeum and the Xagħra Stone Circle. These include the so-called “Venus of Malta”, the “Twin Seated figurine”, the “Stick Idols”, jewellery and decorated megaliths, which are testimony to the high craftsmanship, impressive sophistication and complex culture of the islanders at the time. A series of historic plans, drawings and photographs will also accompany these objects.

Such an exhibition is a perfect occasion to export Malta’s millennial heritage to the United States. Undoubtedly it will increase awareness of Malta’s rich cultural heritage and will hopefully draw a greater share of American cultural tourists to Malta.

The exhibition will run for over three months until the 7th of July and is expected to draw a large number of visitors.

Follow news from the exhibition by visiting the National Museum of Archaeology Facebook page. More information is also available on the NYU’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World website.