An illustrated guide to prehistoric Gozo

Abstract

"There are more than a score surviving prehistoric sites on Gozo; a few more have been allowed to disappear within this century while others are still in the process of being officially recorded. The sites vary in size and complexity, from single standing stones (such as the menhir of Qala), through single cell structures (like the dolmens at Ta' Ċenċ) to the largest and most splendid megalithic complex of Ġgantija covering an area of close to a thousand square metres. Considering its wealth of prehistoric relics Gozo has not played a role commensurate with its importance in the history of Maltese archaeological studies. Suffice it to note that only one of the eleven phases that make up the islands' prehistoric sequence was named after a Gozitan site. This is certainly because its potential archaeological wealth has not been adequately exploited, mostly for logistic reasons. It is hoped that the imbalance will be redressed in the future, even in the near future. Gozo has been less spoilt than Malta by the rapacious land speculation and it probably still preserves precious information for the conscientious researcher to tap". [ text quoted from the Foreword section, written by Prof. Anthony Bonanno ]