The Perseverance of Archaeology: New Data from a Rescue Investigation at Triq Fejġel in Rabat and its Contribution to the Punic and Roman Maltese Funerary Context

Kevin Borda,Paolo Spadaro,Carlo Veca,Bernardette Mercieca-Spiteri

doi:10.1515/opar-2020-0129

Abstract

Abstract The Maltese funerary context during the Punic and Roman times is documented from discoveries and archaeological reports primarily from the twentieth century. Notwithstanding, documentation standards in the first half of the last century were such as to provide limited archaeological data to properly understand the context, phasing and ritual. The combination of robust policy-driven archaeological monitoring procedures together with a scientific excavation of reported discoveries is essential to provide fresh archaeological data which must necessarily be published within adequate time frames. This will by no small means contribute to the formulation of a proper national research agenda by identifying lacunae as well as giving rise to new research questions. This study draws attention to the survival of archaeology seen as limited stratigraphic contexts that have persevered through the centuries and the continuous exploitation of the site. It is a case study of the application of a stratigraphic scientific approach to a recent archaeological discovery during archaeological monitoring, providing ample data with regard to funerary reuse and associated practices and rituals together with an in-depth osteological observation of skeletal remains therein discovered.

Highlights

The discovery of the tomb in 2019, which will be discussed in this study, is a direct result of the predictive modelling and precautionary approach being adopted by the superintendence of cultural heritage (SCH), which is based on the limiting of ground disturbance and the imposing of archaeology monitoring during any development works within the area of archaeological importance (AAI) for Rabat and Mdina in view of the high probability of new archaeological discoveries
The perseverance of archaeology 129 topography (Triq Santa Rita – “Triq” is the Maltese word for street – St Rita Street, a straight wide road, is built on the fill of the Roman period ditch which demarcated the world of the living from that of the dead, with all burials being located to its South)
The continued archaeological discoveries within this urban area led to the planning authority (PA) establishing an AAI for Rabat and Mdina, in 1998

Summary

Introduction

The discovery of the tomb in 2019, which will be discussed in this study, is a direct result of the predictive modelling and precautionary approach being adopted by the superintendence of cultural heritage (SCH), which is based on the limiting of ground disturbance and the imposing of archaeology monitoring during any development works within the area of archaeological importance (AAI) for Rabat and Mdina in view of the high probability of new archaeological discoveries. The perseverance of archaeology 129 topography (Triq Santa Rita – “Triq” is the Maltese word for street – St Rita Street, a straight wide road, is built on the fill of the Roman period ditch which demarcated the world of the living from that of the dead, with all burials being located to its South). In effect, this demarcation appears to have already been established during the preceding Phoenician/Punic periods, while not enough data exists to understand land uses in the preceding Prehistoric and Bronze age periods. Following the 2013 publication of the AAI, continued and improved monitoring procedures have resulted in further archaeological discoveries within the AAI, which is the subject of this study (Figure 1)

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion