Last Saturday, a broad coalition of representatives from different political parties and independent activists came together, unified in the goal of protecting Ghajn Lukin, the landscape surrounding the Santa Verna Temple, in Xaghra, Gozo.

Among those present were Arnold Cassola (Momentum), Sandra Gauci (ADPD), Norma Camilleri (Gozitan activist and Xaghra resident), Luke Said (Gozitan activist and Nadur resident), Joseph Attard Tabone (Archaeology Scholar and discoverer of the Xaghra Circle), Timothy Tabone (Ethnobotanist) and Dr. Dawn A. Saliba (Archaeologist and Co-Founder of MALTA-ARCH).

Dr Saliba also read a statement of support written by Labour Party MP Katya De Giovanni, who was too unwell to attend the event.

Labour Party Minister Dr. Katya de Giovanni supported the Parliamentary petition by MALTA-ARCH and passionately urged “our national authorities to act responsibly” and “protect the Santa Verna Archaeological Landscape in Xaghra, Gozo from the destruction it currently faces”.

Professor Arnold Cassola (Momentum) called out the “Gozitan Triad” of Joseph Portelli, Daniel Refalo, and Mark Agius, whose irresponsible developments are “vandalising our country irrevocably destroying our country’s history, heritage and culture, for nothing but short-term gain.”

He also called for a special Emergency Conservation Order to protect Ghajn Lukin, the Santa Verna archaeological landscape and requested everyone to sign the petition.

Sandra Gauci (ADPD) also warned against the greed that is threatening Gozo’s environment and historical sites. She highlighted the fact that the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage “sold out the Ta’ Lablab caves, an archaeologically important site a couple of hundred metres away from the Santa Verna Temple for a mere €5K Heritage Gain settlement.”

Xaghra resident Norma Camilleri read a speech about “safeguarding what our ancestors left for us,” the need to “be vociferous and do our utmost to preserve our prehistoric remains and archaeological sites” so as to leave a legacy for our children.

Gozitan and Geoscientist Luke Said clearly laid out how the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage is “the authority that is meant to protect, to conserve, our cultural heritage” but is “failing in its job” and “allowing for its destruction instead.”

Archaeology Scholar and renowned discoverer of the Xaghra Circle, Joseph Attard Tabone, detailed how the original 1911 excavators of the site found Neolithic remains scattered all over the Ghajn Lukin (the Santa Verna landscape) and the authorities of the time protected the whole area.

He then discussed how he himself later found an Ghar Dalam period (c. 5000 BCE) settlement here, dating roughly two thousand years before the Ggantija Temple and how the archaeologist sent by the-then Antiquities Department were “throwing away all of the Ghar Dalam period pottery sherds, which he rescued.” However, that discovery also led to protection of the landscape (which remained until the Rationalisation Scheme of 2006).

Ethnobotanist Timothy Tabone highlighted endemic plants threatened by development including the Maltese Salt Tree, the Maltese Giant Fennel, and a certain type of saucer-size edible oyster mushroom.

He also shared interesting anecdotes for each plant as to how they were used traditionally for centuries by Malta’s early inhabitants.

In the Question and Answer session and the Archaeology Walk Dr Saliba highlighted the dangers that the upcoming “reforms” to the Development Planning Act posed.

Dr Saliba also discussed the remarkable discoveries found in Ghar Lukin through the recent FRAGSUS 2014 – 2019 excavations and how the archaeology monitor of the Ta’ Lablab site (near Santa Verna) “broke the law by allowing the bulldozing of the Temple-Period burial pit including the remains of seven children.”

Dr Saliba urged everyone to sign the petition and beome part of MALTA-ARCH’s community so that they can participate in Carmen Bajada’s Tuesday online hearing with the Planning Authority, objecting to the development of 18 buildings near archaeological remains of Ta’ Lablab.

Photo: MALTA-ARCH – From the left – Luke Said, Norma Camilleri, Joseph Attard Tabone, Timothy Tabone

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