Water management in Medieval and Early Modern Malta

Abstract

The known historical documentation on the water sources and management employed for domestic and agricultural use in late medieval Malta is limited. The earliest record does not predate 1467 and the surviving documentation cannot be regarded, as being a representative sample of what probably existed (Wettinger 1982: 1). When trying to reconstruct day-to-day life in late medieval Malta, including water storage and management, fifteenth century notarial deeds are a multifaceted source of information. The notarial deeds of Notary Giacomo Zabbara show entries for aqua, aque, aqueductus, aquarum pluviarum conductus, cisterna, conductus and irrigacio (Fiorini 1996; 1999). Sixteenth century notarial deeds might yield more evidence in this respect, but their investigation has still to be systematically undertaken.