Near the town of Mġarr in Malta, there is a stone structure older than the Egyptian Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge. Designated as a World Heritage Site under UNESCO, the Ta’ Ħaġrat Temples, built between 3600 BCE and 3200 BCE, are some of the oldest religious sites in the world.
Excavations began on the site in the 1920s after archaeologists took an interest in a strange mound in the middle of a farmer’s field.
Upon excavation, the archaeologists made an interesting discovery inside the temple — a perfectly intact clay model of the temple.
Despite damage from the roots of a large carob tree, natural erosion, and the farmer’s use of stones from the temple to build a house, the site continues to remain unprotected.
Wind and precipitation continues to degrade the temple, and the site itself is threatened by land developers.
A tent similar to the ones used to protect Malta’s Ħaġar Qim from rain, wind, and hail would help tremendously.
Perhaps the allure of more tourism dollars may be the key to local and international support for the site’s defense.
Here is a short video I made of the site back when Instagram only allowed 15-second videos:
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