MALTA
TEMPLES
The megalithic temples in Malta are unique in terms of their apsidal design. The earliest temples date to more than 5,000 years ago. With 'altars,' megalithic trilithon entrance ways, 'fat lady' statues and many other enigmatic features, the temples are full of mystery. Some of the best preserved ones are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Considering the small size of the islands, the number of temples is astounding and there used to be many more.

ĦAĠAR QIM
Ħaġar Qim is the only existing temple in Malta to have a front and back entrance. The complex consists of three temples and other structures.

MNAJDRA
500m away from Ħaġar Qim is Mnajdra, a complex of three temples surrounding a forecourt with a few other scattered megaliths.

TA' ĦAĠRAT
Close to Skorba, Ta' Ħaġrat consists of two temples in the village of Mġarr. The trilithon entrance remains in the oldest temple on the site.

SKORBA
Skorba was a complex of two temples, a trefoil one and a later four-apse-plus-niche structure.

TAL-QADI
Little remains of this temple which is near Salina Bay. During excavations the 'sky tablet' was found here.

BORĠ IN-NADUR
A temple followed by a Bronze Age defended village make this a confusing but impressive site.

BUĠIBBA
In the grounds of the Dolmen Hotel are the remains of a trefoil temple. The entrance is a partial reconstruction.

ĠGANTIJA
The oldest temples in Malta consist of one five apse building and a later four-apse-plus-niche structure.

SANTA VERNA
Little remains of this temple on the Xagħra plateau close to the Xagħra Stone Circle and Ġgantija.

TAS-SILĠ
A multi-period archaeological excavation site that may have had four temples in the Neolithic period.

KORDIN III
This Ġgantija phase temple has a trefoil layout with a lobed structure joined to it and faces south east.

BORĠ l-IMRAMMA
A ruinous site on Ta' Ċenċ Cliffs in Gozo about 500m south of the dolmens. Only a few scattered blocks remain.

TARXIEN
There are the remains of four temples at Tarxien. A site, that was reused during the Bronze Age as a cemetery.

XROBB l-GĦAĠIN
Scanty and inaccessible remains of a Ġgantija phase temple. Few remains were excavated from the site.

ĦAL SAFLIENI
Hypogeum which was used for both burials and rituals during the time it was active.
DOLMENS
Dolmens are mysterious megalithic structures that can be found all over the world. Their forms and sizes vary, but they mostly consist of one huge horizontal capstone being placed on two vertical uprights. They are thought to be burial sites, but skeletal and cremation remains are rarely found under them. Some dolmens date to as early as the Neolithic, whilst others are Bronze Age.
MENHIRS
Menhirs are found all over the world. Some stand alone, others form part of stone circles, rows and other shapes. In Malta it's thought they may have once belonged to megalithic temples or other Neolithic buildings. Alternatively they may have been built during the later Bronze Age. The purpose of menhirs isn't known, but theories vary from them having been used for astronomical alignments or as boundary markers between different villages. This section also features scattered megaliths which must have belonged to a building, but often the sites are too ruinous to provide any useful information.
CART RUTS
These parallel grooves cut into the limestone bedrock can be found in several countries but there is a huge concentration on Malta and Gozo. Although referred to as 'cart ruts' their original purpose is not know. No one theory explains all of their intriguing facets and variations. They cannot be dated conclusively but are thought to be Bronze Age or earlier. Some are deeply cut, others shallow. Some are on flat land, others on slopes. Some are singular, others in sets. Some are curved, others straight. They are quite the mystery.