The prehistoric history of Żebbuġ is still very sketchy and largely
unstudied. There are various references in historical accounts – some
even dating back to the 18th century – which mention important finds
in Żebbuġ. These include Aguis de Soldanis’s referencesto the retrieval
of an alabaster statue representing Dea Flora in the area known as It-
Taflija and some megalithic remains. The renowned Maltese
archaeologist Rev. Manwel Magri (1851-1907) included a reference to
“The Ġgantija of Żebbuġ” in a 1905 report. Until now no one has
managed to locate such this site.
Two Bronze Age walls, one of top of Ta’ Kuljat and another at Ta’ Dun
Wistinu area, off Dun Franġisk Vella Street have drawn the attention of
several archaeologists and scholars including the great British
archaeologist David Trump who visited the latter together with
photographer Daniel Cilia and Mario Cassar.
One can freely say that the Għajn Mhelhel zone on the northern part
of Żebbuġ is of great archaeological interest. Not very far from Ta’
Tutiet area, in Għajn Mhelhel Street, the remains of some eleven
human skeletons (c. 3000 B.C.) were discovered in 1986 during the
installation of a new drainage system.
As regards to the Punic tombs of Ta’ Tutiet, in a field accessed from
Għajn Mhelhel Street, historian Dr. Horatio C. R. Vella observed
yellowish stone cliffs into which once were found Phoenician rock-cut
tombs. These however were covered with stones and soil. A visit to
the area will lead one to several rock-cut caves that might have been
used for burials during Punic times. These tombs are scattered across
the whole area which spans from Għajn Mhelhel to Wied il-Qbajjar (
which translates as “the valley of the small tomb”) and beyond.
Usually, such graves were dug in the rock including limestone and they
usually included a mortuary bed on which the body would be laid on.
Many of these caves have been altered in time and some suffered
heavy erosion.
Għajn Mhelhel was one of the first locations in Żebbuġ to be
documented in ancient times. Records in the State Archives of Palermo
include a letter dated 2nd January 1375 which makes reference to lease
money to be collected from Percollus de Bonfilio who looked after the
lands of Għajn Mhelhel and who owned one ounce. Another reference
to Għajn Mhelhel comes from a document sent to the Chancellary at
Palermo, which states that in 1478 Master Lawrence De Guaglardo
alias de Suria, of Gozo, requested the lease of a piece of land called
Għajn Mhelhel in Zabuchi, an old reference to the village of Żebbuġ.
The area is one of the closest points to Sicily and its coast might have
been the place where the first inhabitants of Malta have set foot in the
Neolithic Period.
References: Cini, S. (2015) Is-Sejba ta’ Għadam Uman u Materjal Preistoriku fiż-Żebbuġ Għawdex fl-1986. In L-Għolja taż-Żebbuġ. Vol. 73. Malta: Gozo Press Vella, H. C. R. (2018). Żebbuġ of Gozo – Its People, Inscriptions and History.
Malta: Print It
Research: Mario Cassar
Copyright: Soċjeta’ Banda Santa Marija and Żebbuġ Gozo Local Council
Photo credits: Leo Cefai
