The archaeology of Medieval Gozo is showcased in a new exhibition opened at the Ministry for Gozo.

This exhibition, which is open until the end of October, has been launched by Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici and Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri.

Speaking at the exhibition’s inauguration in Gozo, Minister Owen Bonnici, said that this exhibition is a clear demonstration of the excellent relationship between two museums of Heritage Malta i.e. the National Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of Archaeology of Gozo.

“It is being presented with the aim of increasing the public’s appreciation of our country’s medieval heritage. This showcases the importance of investment in such exhibitions as similar exhibitions have always maintained the culture life,” Dr Bonnici concluded.

Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri said that such collaborations are very important so that the historical heritage can be enjoyed by the public.

He added that, “our historical heritage helps in continuing to attract tourists to these islands and we look forward for more future collaboration with the Ministry for National Heritage.”

Nathaniel Cutajar, Principal Curator at the National Museum of Archaeology, said that this exhibition aims to draw the public’s attention to Gozo’s medieval millennium history, which is in many ways uncharted territory.

He explained that in fact, no secure historical information exists on Gozo before the mid-13th century. After that date information starts becoming sporadically available, but only for limited aspects of social life. Gozo irretrievably lost most of its medieval archives and artistic heritage in the dramatic invasion of 1551.

Cutajar said that, “it was as if a millennium had been erased from the historical record. Archaeology therefore plays an important role in filling out some of these historical gaps.”

The exhibition, An Island in Transition – 700 to 1700 AD: The Archaeology of Medieval Gozo, was first inaugurated in October 2021 at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, where it attracted popular and critical attention.

Apart the collaboration between two museums of archaeology, the exhibition has also benefitted greatly from the additional collaboration of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Sannat Local Council.

This exhibition provides an overview of Gozo’s medieval heritage as seen from an archaeological perspective. It is the second event in the Medieval Malta exhibition series, an initiative of Heritage Malta and of the National Museum of Archaeology aimed at promoting greater public appreciation of Malta’s medieval heritage.

The first exhibition was dedicated to the archaeology of Malta’s Dark Ages (9th to 10th century AD). Entrance to the exhibition is free of charge. A booklet on this exhibition is available for sale.

Opening times are; from Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm (last admission at 3:30pm); Saturdays and Sundays 9:00am – 1:00pm.

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