The Department of Fundamental & Dogmatic Theology will be hosting a Theology Research Seminar entitled 'Cave Churches in Medieval Malta'.
Speaker: Dr Keith Buhagiar
Venue: Theology Board Room (317)
Date: Wednesday 14 March
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Chair: Rev. Dr John Berry
The roots of Maltese high medieval cave dwelling probably lie in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and was the result of new attitudes adopted following the Norman conquest of 1127. A strong cave dwelling tradition during this period appears to reflect a coordinated effort at increasing the hydrological and agricultural output of specifically designated countryside areas of the archipelago. It also included the excavation of cave churches. This seminar seeks to analyse cave church typology, decoration and spatial distribution and contextualise probable cross-cultural influences filtering through neighbouring Sicily and South Italy. It also seeks to draw awareness on a relatively unknown phase of Malta’s socio-religious cultural heritage.
The general public is cordially invited to attend this public lecture.
RSVP Ms Gillian Cachia on +356 2340 2767 or send an email to gillian.cachia@um.edu.mt
Keith Buhagiar is a PhD graduate in archaeology from the University of Malta specialising in rural landscape development, related water management systems as well as Maltese and Sicilian medieval and Early Modern cave-settlements and rock-excavated spaces. Dr Buhagiar lectures Palaeochristian, Byzantine and Medieval archaeology at the Department of Classics and Archaeology and the Faculty of Theology, both at the University of Malta. Research interests include central Mediterranean, North African and Near Eastern water management systems, Late Roman and medieval subterranean burial spaces, cave-dwellings and rock-excavated oratories, as well as Mediterranean settlement location and distribution.