In the 1980s in id-Dahar were discovered a number of prehistoric, Phoenician, Punic and Roman remains. These consisted mainly of megalithic structures, rock-cut tombs and pottery shreds.
In the south east near the Red Tower the Italian archaeologist Anati found a number of rock-hewn tombs, which probably goes back to the Roman period. The tombs consists mainly of a squared chambers linked with a rock cut corridor. Near the tower were found a number of pottery shreds of different periods: Bronze Age, Phoenician and Roman. In previous years archaeologist Evans stated that in this area there were the remains of a prehistoric temple near the red Tower. The Italian archaeologists reported that there were a number of large stones forming a straight line, but they didn’t find any megalithic remains. Fradkin and Anati stated that Evans probably referred to a megalithic structure outside their site. 1
In the west of id-Dahar the same archaeologists found an old rock cut cistern. Rock cuts were found and a number of rock hewn tombs were discovered probably dating back to Roman period. On the other side of the road were found a number of cart-ruts, round structures cut in the rock, wells and canals. Very few pottery shreds were found and these were dated to the Prehistoric Period. 2
In the north-east Anati discovered a house built in the megalithic technique, which was in use until recent times. A large number of recent pottery shreds were excavated in the vicinity of the house. In the east of the site were found three different types of pottery shreds and at least one of them dates back to prehistoric Times. Not far from this site they found the remains of a megalithic wall and two stone circles. 3
References:
1 Fradkin Anati, Ariela & Emmanuel Anati (eds), Missione a Malta Ricerche e studi sulla Preistoria dell’Arcipelago Maltese nel Contesto Mediterraneo, Jaca Books, Italy, 1988, p 201.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid, p 202.
Researched and Written by: Charles Debono B.A.(Hons) History
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