Scheduling of three Maltese archaeological sites to stand

The MEPA board confirmed the scheduling of five archaeological sites and turned down appeals to have the scheduling reconsidered.

The most prominent case to be debated was that regarding Calypso’s Cave overlooking Ramla Bay in Gozo.

The Heritage Planning Unit proposed the scheduling of a number of archaeological sites, originally listed in the Antiquities List, which was last revised in 1939.

The sites were scheduled as Class A sites or Class B site with the relevant buffer zone as stipulated in the relevant Structure Plan and Local Plan Policies. The proposal was presented to the MEPA board on 5 November, 2009 and the approved scheduling was published in the Government Gazette on 22 December, 2009.

Yesterday’s MEPA board meeting was scheduled to discuss applications for reconsideration of five sites, but in one case, the Tal-Maqgħad cave at Xagħra the discussion had to be postponed because the objectors are abroad, while in the case of the Dolmen near Wied Żnuber there are, the board was told, ongoing discussions of a national nature, so the discussion was postponed indefinitely.

There are three principal reasons why Calypso’s Cave was scheduled:

• its natural importance
• its archaeological importance since as late as the 1960s some pottery was found; and
• its role in folklore, although the link to Calypso and the Homeric Odyssey is a fairly recent one.

Emidio Azzopardi, owner of the Ulysses Lodge (itself the focus of a highly controversial application in past years, since withdrawn) requested a revision of the buffer zone to exclude his property which includes a number of legally constructed commercial buildings such as an old disco as well as an unconverted farmhouse. He is claiming that scheduling is in conflict with the existing uses and that buffer zone should have excluded those areas already committed/disturbed.

The Planning Directorate counter-argued that archaeological scheduling is carried out irrespective of existing uses and can include both urban and rural areas and any structures therein. In such instances, scheduling does not preclude the use of existing structures but allows for the application of safeguards in case of redevelopments.

The existence of valid permits does not preclude the scheduling of areas. Additionally HPU noted that the above permit has been withdrawn and an appeal submitted by objector.

Supported by Dr Carmelo Galea and Perit Saviour Micallef, the objector argued that the buffer zone should follow the lie of the land and especially the geological features: since there is a gap between the cave and the contested area, the buffer zone should not have been extended so far.

But the directorate officials informed him that a Class A site must have a 100 m minimum buffer zone and a Class B one a 50 metre buffer zone as a minimum.

The directorate officials also added that one other objective of scheduling is to protect the visual impact of the site, to which Dr Galea replied that his client was not proposing to build four storey-high buildings on top of the ridge but a cluster of low-lying villas. Also, much study has been conducted in preparation for the Ulysses Lodge application and these studies should have been taken note of in the 2009 scheduling.

Hagra ta’ Sansuna

The first objection to come up for discussion was the area around Ħagra ta’ Sansuna in Xagħra, the apparent remains of a prehistoric temple. A man who owns nearby land said that the buffer zone negatively affected the value of his land, while another compared the scheduling to expropriation, and cited antiquity scholars John Evans and David Trump who expressed doubts about the site.

But the Heritage Planning Unit representative pointed out that land value was not a consideration when sites were scheduled, and pointed out that Evans and Trump doubted what the site was, (i.e. whether it is the remains of a Neolithic temple or a bronze-age menhir/dolmen), but not its archaeological value.

It should also be pointed out that in the 1968 National Ordinance Survey Maps, the site is indicated as a Neolithic Monument. HPU also said the objector is incorrect in stating that there are no associated finds. During the widening of Triq Ġnien Imrik in 1946, a stone mortar used for corn grinding together with a number of prehistoric sherds were discovered and hastily re-buried. The MEPA board subsequently unanimously voted to keep the scheduling as is.

Ghajn Klieb

The next site to be discussed was the Għajn Klieb tombs in Rabat (between Rabat and Baħrija) which were excavated by Temi Zammit and which date to the Phoenician period. This is the site where the two gold statuettes of Egyptian origin were found, later linked together by a ring by the Phoenicians.

The owner of a nearby chicken farm sought to exclude his land from scheduling because it would affect future plans, but the HPU maintained that the farm could still be developed, if the appropriate precautions are taken. Besides, the site was included in the Antiquities List in 1923, far before the farm was built. Again, MEPA voted unanimously in favour of maintaining the existing scheduling.

Tal-Liebru Catacombs

In 1880 these catacombs were discovered and a plan exists showing this to be a two-storey underground catacomb. HPU has not physically located the exact location of the catacomb. In its scheduling exercise, MEPA based its identification of the location mainly on the toponym of the site, related published studies and survey carried out by the Malta University Services.

HPU is currently carrying out further studies for a more accurate identification of the site and is requesting the MEPA board to keep this request to lift the scheduling in abeyance until these studies have been completed.

According to Professor Mario Buhagiar, the foremost expert in Malta of paleo-Christian archaeology, this is an important Christian burial site.

But the man who for the past 53 years has been tilling the field said he has never seen any evidence of a catacomb. He pointed to a site two fields away where caves are said to be.

But the HPU officials said that a field covered with soil is no proof there is nothing there. Most of the catacombs have been found buried under soil. At Ħal Resqun, near the airport, legend said there was a catacomb there but it was only when the airport roundabout was being constructed that the catacomb was found. It has since been preserved.

So too the Ta’ Bistra Catacombs in Mosta and indeed the Hypogeum itself: in 1902 it too was a field and the hypogeum was only discovewred when they were digging to build a house. So too at Żejtun and other places.

As for the indication to a nearby site, an HPU official said the entire area was a burial area so it is possible there are more catacombs in the area. The problem is to find the entry to the catacombs which were discovered in 1880: there must be a narrow steps leading underground somewhere.

---

Author: Noel Grima | Source: The Malta Independent [January 11, 2011]

---