| Registration Classification | cultural heritage |
| Registration Criteria | (4) |
| Year of registration | 1980 |
The Republic of Malta, located in the Mediterranean Sea, is dotted with a number of megalithic temples.There are 30 megalithic temples on the islands of Malta and Gozo, seven of which are registered as World Heritage sites. These were built during the Bronze Age, around 4000 B.C. to 3000 B.C., and are valued for their high level of technology at the time.
Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Megalithic Temples of Malta are a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the Megalithic Temples of Malta!
What are the Megalithic Temples of Malta?
Malta is a republic located about 93 km south of Sicily.Despite being a remote island, it is believed to have been inhabited since the Neolithic Age.The island of Gozo, just north of Malta, has a megalithic temple called Jugantija, and other Bronze Age temples built between 4000 B.C. and 3000 B.C. remain on these two islands, including Skorba, Tarsine, Hajeem, and Mnajdra.
Two megalithic temples on Jugantiya were registered in 1980, and five more were added in 1982. They differ in design and architectural style, but what they have in common is a façade and an elliptical vestibule. They were built by assembling upright blocks of stone, called Orthostates, and are believed to have been a very technologically advanced civilization at the time.
The interior structures varied in size and room, with some temples having only three, while others had as many as six built. They were built using materials available on the island, such as limestone formed from coral for the outer walls and soft limestone for the interior. The decorations of the temples are decorated with motifs of trees, plants, and animals, which suggests that they were highly organized societies.
For what reason are the Megalithic Temples of Malta on the World Heritage List?
Megalithic Temples of Malta was recognized for
Registration Criteria (iv)
The megalithic temples were built between 4000 and 3000 B.C., yet their architectural techniques were outstanding.
Conclusions and Thoughts of a World Heritage Maniac
The megalithic temple complex in Malta means that it is one of the oldest stone structures in humanity. The high architectural skills possessed by the people who lived on the island at that time are highly valued.
Incidentally, before the discovery of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, these were considered the oldest stone buildings in the world. Incidentally, Göbekli Tepe was built between 10,000 BC and 8,000 BC.
*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.
