Museums and Heritage Sites

TA' HAGRAT & SKORBA TEMPLES

The Skorba ruins and Ta' Hagrat Neolithic temple are two enthralling archaeological sites near Mgarr. Both sites are perhaps more of interest to archaeologists or the informed visitor, and are not generally open to the public. Skorba was excavated in 1966 by the eminent British archaeologist David Trump. Its importance lies in the material obtained during the dig, which throws light on the pre-temple Neolithic period

The site is believed to be that of a Bronze Age domestic dwelling. Stone bases of primitive huts were also found on the site. Skorba is the only place with signs of dwellings used by Neolithic and Bronze Age peoples. The key to the site is available at the National Museum of Archaeology. Ta' Hagrat Neolithic Temples were discovered some forty years earlier than their companion site - that is, in 1925. This is the earliest standing temple building in Malta. Its Gozo contemporary is the Ggantija temple complex. The group consists of two adjacent three-foil temples dating from around 3600 - 3300 B.C. One of the temples has several steps in front of the trilithon entrance, a stone pavement and a stone bench at its façade. Pottery remains found here are older than the temple and seem to indicate a pre-temple settlement in the area.