Medieval Malta : abandoned villages, chapels and farmhouses

Abstract

Research on medieval villages in Malta has yet to become a priority among archaeologist of the Maltese Islands. This is not surprising since Malta holds so many amazing Megalithic temples and many other famous Neolithic sites. So, the chapels, farmhouses and ceramics that litter the countryside are just waiting to be studied. I began my research on the island by studying the material culture of deserted villages and farmhouses. I focused on using surface ceramics and surviving house remains to analyze the changing way of life of the countryside. Artefact collection and analysis are of extreme importance since a medieval pottery typology and chronology in Malta are lacking. Sites with intact stratified layers and ceramics in situ would greatly advance the data available for the Medieval age on Malta. The documentation of medieval farmhouses on Malta is equally important for current research. The majority of standing structures, i.e., farmhouses and chapels, come from the last few centuries. Pre-sixteenth century farmhouses are very hard to locate, but with the help of various researchers from the University of Malta, I received many promising leads.