The terraced landscapes of the Maltese islands

Abstract

Although terracing is such a prominent landscape feature, it remains one of the least understood phenomena of Mediterranean landscapes. Intensively terraced areas may be encountered in several Mediterranean countries but, surprisingly, in others they are absent, despite topographic and geomorphological conditions which seem highly suited to terracing. Some Mediterranean islands possess a long history of terracing (e.g., Majorca, Malta, and Crete) while other islands show few, if any, traces of such structures (e.g., Sicily and Rhodes). Terrace construction methods and the related art of building retaining drystone walls also vary between regions. This rich variety of human responses to demanding environments and the scattered distribution pose intriguing questions for landscape research.