Recreating Neolithic Malta's domestic environment: 3D Reconstruction of the Għajnsielem Road house

Abstract

While Neolithic Maltese temples have been amply studied, the same cannot be said of domestic spaces. ‘Temple period’ houses have suffered greatly the test of time, and only a handful of sites have been identified and excavated. One of the best preserved examples is the Għajnsielem Road huts, uncovered in 1988 and characterised by in situ floors and foundation level walls.The site is an important example of inhabited environment, and 30 years after it was first exposed it has now been rebuilt using 3D software. Here we explain the reconstruction process and the issues faced while recreating the destroyed architecture.By comparing the remains with those of other sites in prehistoric Malta, the basic structure is reformed. Hypothetical reconstructions also allow the simulation of theories, and lost elements such as the roof are suggested through careful analysis of the archaeological evidence. The results demonstrate the use of 3D reconstruction for the presentation and interpretation of archaeological sites, while simultaneously re-evaluating the importance of domestic life in Neolithic Malta.