Temples of Tarxien

The lower part of a colossal statue of a figure dressed in a pleated skirt stands as a symbol of the dawn of civilization in the southern temple of the Tarxien Neolithic complex. Discovered in 1913 by farmer Lorenzo Despott, this site comprises four megalithic structures erected in the late Neolithic and adapted in the early Bronze Age. The eastern part of the complex, the oldest, retains only the bases of the walls, but still features a concave façade and five chambers. Archaeological excavations carried out by Sir Themistocles Zammit between 1915 and 1919 revealed a wealth of prehistoric art, with bas-relief sculptures depicting spirals and animals. Domestic animals, such as goats, bulls, pigs and a ram, are widely represented, and bones found in specific areas underline their importance at the time. The eastern structure follows the traditional model of megalithic temples, with a central corridor flanked by semicircular chambers. The presence of vaulted roofs in the central structure, the last of the four to be built, allows us to imagine the original appearance of these temples. Physical barriers between the different areas suggest that some parts were accessible only to a part of the community. A large fireplace in the corridor between the first apses and a smaller one in the corridor between the second pair testify to the use of fire. Although little information is available about the activities inside these buildings, archaeological evidence suggests that they were central structures in the lives of the island’s Neolithic inhabitants. In the early Bronze Age, after 2000 B.C., arrivals transformed some areas into cremation cemeteries, leaving behind a rich cultural phenomenon and archaeological artefacts.