Archaeological Remains at Gheriexem Street, Rabat (Malta)

Archaeological remains were unearthed during renovation works within a 19th Century
house in Gheriexem Street, one of the historical quarters of Rabat (Malta). The remains were
investigated in May of 2009 by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

The archaeological remains were uncovered within a very small area of the house, measuring
3m by 2.5m. Notwithstanding the small area investigated, important structural remains
from the Phoenician and Punic periods were identified and documented. This was the
first instance in which Punic domestic structures from the ancient city of Melita could be
investigated stratigraphically.

The results obtained by means of the stratigraphic investigation were further elaborated by
means of analysis of the ceramic finds by Dr. B. Bechtold, which confirmed that the remains
dated to between the 7th and the 4th Century B.C.

Phoenician occupation – The oldest stratigraphy identified on site consisted of pockets
of clay found over the bedrock, particularly within shallow depressions within the rock’s
surface. This deposit could not be related to any structural remains identified on site.

Ceramics retrieved from this deposit date to the 7th/6th century B.C. indicating a Phoenician
occupation of this part of Rabat since Archaic times. This early, Phoenician occupation of
Rabat is further confirmed by other recent investigations close to the Gheriexem area.

Punic 5th / 4th Century B.C. – The next phase uncovered on site consisted of two walls
and two plaster floors.

The first wall was built of roughly cut stone blocks lying on an East-West axis. The wall was
uncovered to a length of about 2m and survived in part up to two courses in height. The
second wall was built of large, regular stone blocks and was oriented on a North-West to
South-East axis.

The first wall lay at 90º to the second, in a ‘T’ pattern. Parts of two mortar floors were
uncovered to the north and south of the Wall 1. Both floors were very well constructed and
were set over a preparation layer made of sand, stone and crushed plaster. The north floor
was a pale orange in colour and was constructed of pounded ceramic fragments into the
mortar base, similar to a cocciopesto. The south floor had a polished grey finish.

The ceramics found within the floor preparation layers date to between the 5th and 4th
Century B.C.

Later occupations – The Punic structures were badly damaged by the construction of a
house, probably in the 19th Century. Furthermore the modern construction entirely removed
any archaeological remains that may have lain over the Punic structures. Amongst the
residual ceramics found within the foundation layers of the house were various Roman and
Medieval sherds.