Revisiting Wied ir-Rum : some recent archaeological discoveries

Abstract

The historical and archaeological potential of Wied ir-Rum was brought to the forefront in 1995 when a box-like room, having the technical idiosyncrasies of a late medieval church, was discovered by Prof. Alain Blondy at Simblija.

The structure was tentatively associated with the long-lost church of Santa Maria ta’ Callus, which was formally deconsecrated in 1636.

On-going non-invasive fieldwork at Wied ir- Rum led to the detection of other archaeologically important features.

The most significant of these is a meticulously cut rectangular-shaped subterranean chamber which this study tentatively associates with the church of San Ġakbu (St James), mentioned by Pietro Dusina in his 1575 visitation report. A reinterpretation of the archaeological significance of a subterranean, circular-shaped bath at Ta’ Baldu is also attempted. The bath was formerly tentatively dated to the Roman period, but new evidence, makes the late medieval period a more probable option. Another cave in the Il-Qattara area has been tentatively associated with a subterranean centimolo for which no historical documentation survives.