Season Director

• AIAC_1162 - Ghar Ix-Xih - 2005
  Located on the south-east coast of the island of Gozo and overlooking the naturally sheltered and secluded Mġarr ix-Xini bay, Għar ix-Xiħ is hardly conspicuous to the ordinary viewer. But its archaeological potential had already been realised by Italian archaeologists Ugolini and Caprino visiting the site in the 1930s and 1960s respectively. Due attention was again recently accorded to the site when it was decided to subject it to an excavation exercise in order to determine its true nature, use, and date. This excavation forms part of an archaeological survey of Mġarr ix-Xini valley. The survey is one of the projects constituting the Mġarr ix-Xini Valley Regional Park: a joint initiative of the Sannat and Xewkija Local Councils. The excavation is being carried out by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (which is also carrying out the archaeological survey) together with the Department of Classics and Archaeology of the University of Malta and with the support of the two local councils mentioned. Starting in 2005, the excavation has been going on for the last three seasons (2005 – 7) and is planned to continue in the coming ones. On the basis of the evidence gathered so far, the site appears to have been a small rural shrine possibly serving both the agricultural community of the neighbourhood and the maritime community making use of the nearby harbour facilities. Foreign contacts are, in fact, also evident on the basis of the material retrieved. Possibly having started as a cave, the site appears to have undergone structural development to be adapted to the changing needs during its long period of use spanning from the 6th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. but reaching its peak during the 1st century B.C. – 1st century A.D.
• AIAC_684 - Zejtun Villa - 2006
  The Roman villa lies within the grounds of the Carlo Diacono state secondary school for girls in Żejtun. Traces of ancient masonry were discovered in 1960 when land was being cleared for the construction of a new village school. Archaeological excavations were taken up in 1964 when a large cistern with water channels leading to it was uncovered, together with a stone paved area. The cistern, whose roof was supported on three arches, contained an accumulation of debris. In 1972 excavations were resumed, _revealing_ various parts of the stone apparatus used in Roman times for the production of olive oil. These include a large stone block used as counterweight for the pressing wooden beam, a section of the press bed, and a stone vat. A second cistern was discovered, as well as two rock-cut “silo-pits” containing Bronze Age pottery. Short excavation campaigns were conducted up to 1976 showing that the remains belong to a typical Roman rustic villa containing a residential area with an area for pressing olive oil. A detailed report of the excavations was never published.
• AIAC_684 - Zejtun Villa - 2009
  In 2006 excavation was resumed by the University of Malta. Four trenches were opened up incorporating parts of the 1972-76 excavation limit (Areas A and B), as well as previously unexcavated zones (Areas C and D). The primary aim of the project is to assess, record and publish the architectural remains and cultural material revealed in past excavations and other data arising from limited excavations on the site. An attempt will be made to recover data with which to attempt a reconstruction of the economic and environmental history of the site and its environs. Area A and its immediate surroundings produced some of the most interesting structural and diagnostic features found on site. When the University of Malta began its excavation in 2006, the majority of these features were already exposed. Such features include three floors paved using lozenge-shaped ceramic tiles, a large stone block anchor for the pressing of olives or grapes, and a large stone vat which lies towards the centre of the area. The Area B trench lies within an area that contains many of the 1970s trenches. During the recent 2006-2009 University campaigns, all the area was planned prior to any digging in order to record all the old trench limits. A series of ashlar and dry stone masonry walls were uncovered. Analysis of the pottery excavated from one of the foundation trenches have revealed that the walls were liad down sometime in the 4th century BC. Area C is located to the south of the site. In the previous excavations digging in trench C was only limited to some parts of the trench. Understanding the limit of excavation reached during the previous excavations was one of the main tasks during the first two seasons of digging. The ashlar walls revealed in Area B were found to continue running into Area C. It is likely that the orthagonal walls cris-crossing the site, located in trenches B and C, form part of a sub-terranian structure. Construction material filling the deposits and the lack of any floor levels, above and in between these walls supports the interpretation that these walls belonged to the foundations of an overlying structure which no longer exists. The fourth trench, D, is located to the southern part of the site. A large water cistern was reported to have been discovered during past excavations. No previous excavations were carried out here, because the investigation of the water cistern was considered to be too risky to undertake. During the University of Malta campaigns the cistern was relocated and excavation of the deposits surrounding the cistern-head were carried out. A series of rock-cut channels were revealed leading towards the cistern’s opening, with one of them containing an intact drain pipe complete with its mortar _in situ_. In 2008 and 2009 the excavation team concentrated on emptying the cistern of its deposits.