The prehistoric history of \u017bebbu\u0121 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 \u017bebbu\u0121. These include Aguis de Soldanis\u2019s referencesto the retrieval<\/p>\n\n\n\n
of an alabaster statue representing Dea Flora in the area known as It-
Taflija and some megalithic remains. The renowned Maltese<\/p>\n\n\n\n
archaeologist Rev. Manwel Magri (1851-1907) included a reference to<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe \u0120gantija of \u017bebbu\u0121\u201d in a 1905 report. Until now no one has
managed to locate such this site.
Two Bronze Age walls, one of top of Ta\u2019 Kuljat and another at Ta\u2019 Dun
Wistinu area, off Dun Fran\u0121isk 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 G\u0127ajn Mhelhel zone on the northern part
of \u017bebbu\u0121 is of great archaeological interest. Not very far from Ta\u2019
Tutiet area, in G\u0127ajn 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\u2019 Tutiet, in a field accessed from
G\u0127ajn 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 G\u0127ajn Mhelhel to Wied il-Qbajjar (
which translates as \u201cthe valley of the small tomb\u201d) 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of these caves have been altered in time and some suffered
heavy erosion.
G\u0127ajn Mhelhel was one of the first locations in \u017bebbu\u0121 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 G\u0127ajn Mhelhel and who owned one ounce. Another reference
to G\u0127ajn 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
G\u0127ajn Mhelhel in Zabuchi, an old reference to the village of \u017bebbu\u0121.
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
References: Cini, S. (2015) Is-Sejba ta\u2019 G\u0127adam Uman u Materjal Preistoriku fi\u017c-\u017bebbu\u0121 G\u0127awdex fl-1986. In L-G\u0127olja ta\u017c-\u017bebbu\u0121. Vol. 73. Malta: Gozo Press Vella, H. C. R. (2018). \u017bebbu\u0121 of Gozo \u2013 Its People, Inscriptions and History.
Malta: Print It
Research: Mario Cassar
Copyright: So\u010bjeta\u2019 Banda Santa Marija and \u017bebbu\u0121 Gozo Local Council
Photo credits: Leo Cefai<\/p>\n\n\n