The fight to save priceless archaeology on the Xaghra Plateau reached a critical point at today’s Planning Authority hearing for two applications less than 250m from the Santa Verna Temple in Gozo, during which both were suspended for 6 months.

MALTA-ARCH said that PA 5171-23, proposing 11 houses and jacuzzis beside the temple’s buffer zone, and PA 3174-23, where seven houses are planned next to a partially-bulldozed Temple-Period burial pit containing the remains of children.

The Board concluded at today’s hearing that both applications are to be be suspended for 6 Months in view that SCH analysis has not been concluded since last hearing on 3174 and SCH archaeological evaluation is still ongoing on 5171. The Board said that the applications are to be scheduled on agenda when the SCH comments are uploaded.

The Board also noted that registered objectors are to submit evidence related to both applications for consideration by SCH within 2 weeks for any necessary action as deemed necessary by SCH on the site.

The burial pit, discovered by local resident Carmen Bajada, had not been reported by the site’s archaeological monitor.

At the hearing, Carmen Bajada, the Xaghra resident who discovered the Temple-Period burial pit, called for protection of the area and release of information regarding its unreported archaeological features, referencing how the archaeological monitor and Superintendence of Cultural Heritage failed in their duties to protect the area.

Astrid Vella, coordinator of the NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) offered evidence supporting Ms Bajada’s claims and repeatedly called for the site to be completely sealed.

Archaeologist Dr. Dawn A. Saliba (MALTA-ARCH co-founder) emphasised the global significance of the Ta’ Lablab burial pit, documented in the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage’s (SCH) 2024 report, where seven skulls (mainly children), were buried in a line, some nested within others.

She referenced Joseph Attard Tabone’s discovery of Ghar Dalam settlement (c. 2,000 years before Ggantija) and FRAGSUS excavations (2014-2019) on the plateau, proving near-continuous Neolithic occupation (5,400-2,400 BC), adding that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers likely also frequented the area.

Dr. Saliba detailed how the archaeological monitor allowed the burial pit’s bulldozing in breach of SCH’s monitoring rules, pointing to:

1) Failure to report masses of human bones before Bajada.

2) Recording remains only after FAA’s press release, and requesting backdating of his report.

3) Allowing bulldozing beyond the permitted area, flagged by SCH official Kevin Borda.

4) Misrepresenting a significant rock-cut feature near the pit.

Dr. Saliba expressed disappointment in SCH’s executive apparatus, given its approval to demolish Ta’ Lablab’s cave for a €5,000 “Heritage Gain” settlement and their instruction to the monitor to stratigraphically excavate the burial pit despite his earlier breaches.Dr. Saliba also reported how the day before this hearing, MALTA-ARCH was alerted to bulldozing at PA 5171-23, despite the permit’s suspension. Although the PA claimed the clearance was for “archaeological study,” she explained that such soil removal permanently erases stratigraphic archaeological data, erasing scientific data forever.

She then referenced MALTA-ARCH’s recent press conference for the protection of Ghajn Lukin, where a broad coalition united across party lines.

Dr Saliba cited Labour MP Dr. Katya De Giovanni’s support for the Parliamentary Petition to safeguard Ta’ Lablab (800 signatures so far) and Momentum’s Arnold Cassola plea to end vandalisation of Malta’s cultural heritage.

In response to Carmen Bajada’s, Astrid Vella’s, and Dawn Saliba’s presentations  David Portelli, who is the land owner of the plot PA 5171 -23, kept repeating, “Xejn mhu veru minnu jew minnhom,” but offering no other information or details or even specifying what, exactly, was untrue.

All three objectors promised to submit documented evidence within two weeks in support of their claims.

Photo: MALTA-ARCH

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