The Maltese Temples 2009

A trip to Malta recently highlighted the severity of the damage being done to the Maltese sites both naturally, and intentionally...

It has been 5 years since my last visit, and since then there have been some changes...boy have there been some changes...

At present May 2009 Hagar qim and Mnajdra are in the process of being covered over... effectively seperating them from the landscape - and the sun.

Note: Access to Hagar Qim is currently impossible... 6 week waiting list for Hypogeum.... £50 to view the fenced temples...

In addition, there is an ever growing presence of Graffitti on the stones, fallen stones from quarry damage, natural erosion and sheer vandalism (before and after pictures to follow), and the recent arrival of several walls of un-photogenic scaffold poles (Ggantija is pretty much dependant on scaffolding at present).. Half of the temple is currently closed to visitors.

The animal carvings at the Tarxien are literally flaking off as the stone has deteriorated so quickly, and the site has become more replica and concrete than original.

Its staggering how much damage these monuments have suffered in the last five years...

Alex

(New photos of Malta and alterations to Maltese pages forthwith).