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Excavation

  • Ghajn Dwieli
  • Fgura, Malta
  •  
  • Malta
  • Paola

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Credits

  • The Italian Database is the result of a collaboration between:

    MIBAC (Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali - Direzione Generale per i Beni Archeologici),

    ICCD (Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione) and

    AIAC (Associazione Internazionale di Archeologia Classica).

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Summary (English)

  • The Ghajn Dwieli area, particularly the high grounds overlooking the valley of the same name, is renowned for its numerous Phoenician and Punic tombs discoveries. Due to the encroachment of urban centers, these burials are not visible.

    The following archaeological excavations in the area can be summarised according to date:

    1949:
    a cluster of 6 tombs was found within a 444sq yard area; no particular order was noted in their distribution; a 7th tomb was found 320 yards to ENE of the cluster; 1) rectangular shaft & chamber with T-shaped trench; N orientation; frag. bones of adult male; 6 pottery items: 1 amphora, 1 jug, 1 dish, 2 plates & 1 lamp; 2) rectangular shaft & chamber with trench; N orientation; remains of 1 adult male, 1 juvenile female & 1 child of 3 (dispersed); 8 pottery items: 1 urn, 3 jugs, 3 dishes, 1 lamp; 3) rectangular shaft & chamber; E orientation; frag. remains of 2 adults (1 male); 3 pottery items: 1 amphora, 1 jug, 1 lamp; 4) rectangular shaft & chamber; E orientation; remains of 2 adults; 4 pottery items: 1 amphora 1 jug, 1 lamp, frag. of a plate; 5) rectangular shaft & oval chamber; WNW orientation; rifled except for 1 copper needle; 6) shaft sub-oval, N. oriented with 2 chambers N. chamber – oval plan, frags of 1 adult; 7 pottery items (1 jug, 2 dishes, 3 plates, 1 lamp) a silver pendant, frag. of a decor. silver tube S. chamber – oval plan; some human bone; 9 pottery items (3 urns, 1 jug, 2 dishes, 1 plate, 2 lamps); 7) rectangular shaft & chamber with central trench; E orientation; frag. remains of a male adult; 3 pottery items: 1 amphora, calyx & lamp

    1960:
    discovery of 2 unrifled tombs: 1) rectangular shaft & chamber with lateral trench; 2 burials – a 20/25 year old male & a 1 year old child; 7 pottery items (1 Punic amphora with red bands, 1 oinochoe, 1 kylix, 2 saucers & 2 lamps); 2) rectangular shaft & sub-oval chamber; 2 burials – 50 year-old female & 1 infant of a few months; 5 pottery items (Punic amphora, 1 oinochoe, 1 deep saucer, 1 lamp, 1 thick walled vessel of unbacked clay)

    1964:
    tomb with rectangular shaft, sealed entrance to its N; roughly circular chamber with trench across entrance; a cremation in an urn & 1 articulated skeleton; 5 pottery items (1 cinerary urn, 1 egg shaped amphora, 1 two-handled cup, 1 jug, & 1 heap of clay – possibly an unbaked item)

    1968:
    1 tomb discovered while digging for house foundations; access shaft destroyed; sealed chamber, irregular shape; 2 inhumations; 8 pottery items (2 lamps, 2 dishes, 2 oinochoi, 1 two-handled jar, 1 oval amphora)

    1994:
    Three Punic rock-cut tombs

    1998:
    One rock-cut tomb, probably Punic

    A distinctive characteristic of this necropolis is its close proximity to sea (less than 1 km away)at an anchorable harbour.

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