View source for Punic-Roman towers in Malta

{{Short description|Six ancient defensive structures}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
[[File:Punic-Roman Ta' Gawhar Tower.jpg|thumb|260px|Remains of [[Ta' Ġawhar Tower]] in [[Safi, Malta|Safi]]]]
The remains of six '''Punic-Roman towers''' have been identified in '''Malta'''. They are believed to have been built while [[Malta|the island]] was part of the [[Ancient Carthage|Punic]] or [[Roman Empire]]s. Their architecture suggests a late Punic origin,<ref>{{cite book|last=Sagona|first=Claudia|date=2002|title=The Archaeology of Punic Malta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f9JiAAAAMAAJ&q=Torri+Mqabba|publisher=Peeters Press|isbn=9789042909175|page=271}}</ref> and they remained in use throughout the Roman period, until at least the 3rd century AD. Evidence suggests that the towers were used to defend the island.<ref>Sagona, Claudia (2015), 'Melita and Gaulos during the Punic Period, in [https://books.google.com/books?id=qR5TCgAAQBAJ&dq=persephone+mtarfa&pg=PA230 "The Archeology of Malta"], Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|9781107006690}}, p. 239.</ref> The towers are clearly all built on high grounds, in specific locations, and could considerably communicate with signals from one to another.<ref>[https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/41375/1/L-arkitettura_xhieda_ta_l-identita_nazzjonali_1989.pdf p. 99]</ref> Similar towers are also found in nearby [[Tunisia]] with the same defensive system. In the context of time some locals still lived in caves with few others living in [[vernacular]] housing with similar characteristics to nearby [[Sicily]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Malta Before 870 : Some Libyan Connections|website=Melitensiawth.com|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Hyphen/Hyphen.%204(1984)4/01.pdf|page=130}}</ref>
The towers are generally held to be built during the Punic era and embellished by the Romans.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t-kVAQAAMAAJ&q=Round+towers |title = Malte|isbn = 9780847822867|year = 2001|last1 = Johnston|first1 = Shirley| publisher=Rizzoli }}</ref> Roman and Greek housing were constructed much later and generally not in the proximity to the towers which suggests that by the time the towers may have decreased their importance with the use of other military system such as the fortifications of [[Melite (ancient city)|Melite]]. However the last time when the towers were burned, to send signals, was in the third century AD. Some towers, such as [[Ta' Ċieda Tower]], were primarily built with the [[adaptive reuse]] of pre-historic stones and after the destruction of the towers, when they were not rebuilt again, the ruins were used for funerary tombstones and rubble walls during the Arab period. The bottom base of six towers still survive, at varying extant, while some objects found at the towers are now displayed in museums. Two others were probably completely demolished during the building of the runway of the [[Malta International Airport]].
==List of towers==
Six sites, all on the [[Malta (island)|main island of Malta]], have been identified as being the remains of towers built either in the Punic or Roman periods. These are:<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Buhagiar|first1=Keith|title=Baħrija: Its Archaeological Significance|journal=Melita Historica|date=2007|volume=14|issue=4|pages=361–362|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.14(2004-07)/MH.14(2007)4/01.pdf|issn=1021-6952}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Abela|first1=Giovanni Francesco|authorlink1=Giovanni Francesco Abela|title=Della Descrizione di Malta Isola nel Mare Siciliano con le sue Antichità, ed Altre Notizie|date=1647|publisher=Paolo Bonacota|page=103|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=krRTAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA207|language=Italian}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Location
! scope="col" | Status
! scope="col" class=unsortable | Coordinates
|-
| {{sort|Ghajn Klieb Tower|Għajn Klieb Tower}}
| {{sort|Rabat|[[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]]}}
|
| {{coord|35|53|10.6|N|14|23|3.3|E}}
|-
| {{sort|Ta Baqqari Tower|Tal-Baqqari Tower}} (also spelt ''tal-Bakkari'')
| {{sort|Zurrieq|[[Żurrieq]]}}
|
| {{coord|35|49|10.1|N|14|29|46.2|E}}
|-
| {{sort|Ta Cieda Tower|[[Ta' Ċieda Tower]]}}
| {{sort|San Gwann|[[San Ġwann]]}}
| One third of base remains
| {{coord|35|54|26.6|N|14|28|48.1|E}}
|-
| {{sort|Ta Gawhar Tower|[[Ta' Ġawhar Tower]]}}
| {{sort|Safi|[[Safi, Malta|Safi]]}}
| Remains up to seven courses high
| {{coord|35|49|57.8|N|14|29|58.2|E}}
|-
| {{sort|Ta Santi Tower|Tas-Santi Tower}}
| {{sort|Rabat|[[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]]}}
| Some masonry blocks remain
| {{coord|35|53|50.3|N|14|21|26.6|E}}
|-
| {{sort|Ta Wilga Tower|Ta' Wilġa Tower}} (also known as ''tat-Torrijiet'')
| {{sort|Mqabba|[[Mqabba]]}}
| Part of base remains
| {{coord|35|50|59.2|N|14|27|34.5|E}}
|-
|}
In addition, archaeologist [[David Trump]] mentioned a further two towers, bringing the total to eight. The remains of some other towers might have been demolished to make way for the runway of the [[Malta International Airport]].<ref name=schoolnet>{{cite web|title=It-Torrijiet Tondi Rumani|url=http://www.schoolnet.gov.mt/history/wirt/Rumani/Torrijiet/torrijiet.htm|website=schoolnet.gov.mt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008202158/http://schoolnet.gov.mt/history/wirt/Rumani/Torrijiet/torrijiet.htm|archive-date=8 October 2014|language=Maltese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mt.petiteevents.com/accomodation/st-julians/|title=St. Julians - Malta's most creative DMC|website=Mt.petiteevents.com|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref>
No Roman towers have been identified on Malta's sister island [[Gozo]],<ref name=cieda>{{cite web|title=Ta' Cieda Round Tower|url=http://www.sangwannmalta.org/cieda.htm|website=San Ġwann Local Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122180014/http://sangwannmalta.org/cieda.htm|archive-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> but some archaeological finds on the island are sometimes believed to be the remains of towers. However, the ruins are not sufficient to determine if they were actually Punic or Roman towers, and almost nothing is known about them.<ref name=civilisation>{{cite journal|last1=Zammit|first1=Vincent|title=Maltese Fortifications|journal=Civilization|date=1984|volume=1|page=25|publisher=PEG Ltd|location=[[Ħamrun]]}}</ref>
[[Punic building, Żurrieq|Another Punic tower]] is found in the garden of the house of the parish priest of [[Żurrieq]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-03-23/news/phoenician-and-punic-remains-in-malta-4347265029/|title=Phoenician and Punic remains in Malta - The Malta Independent|website=Independent.com.mt|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> It is {{convert|5.5|m|abbr=on}} high, and it is in relatively good condition. Unlike the other towers, this has a square shape, and it is believed to have been part of a larger building.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bonanno|first1=Anthony|title=Quintinus and the location of the Temple of Hercules at Marsaxlokk|journal=Melita Historica|date=1980|volume=8|issue=3|page=197|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.08(1980-83)/MH.8(1980)3/orig02.pdf}}</ref><ref name=zurrieq/><ref>{{cite web|title=Phoenician remains at Zurrieq|url=http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=malta;id=2;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwebspace%2Ewebring%2Ecom%2Fpeople%2Fiu%2Fum_1967%2Ftower%2Ehtml|website=webring.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113133348/http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=malta;id=2;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwebspace%2Ewebring%2Ecom%2Fpeople%2Fiu%2Fum_1967%2Ftower%2Ehtml|archive-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>
==Architecture, age and purpose==
[[File:Ta Cieda Roman Tower.jpeg|thumb|left|Remains of the base of [[Ta' Ċieda Tower]] in [[San Ġwann]]]]
All six towers have a round shape, and were built out of large [[ashlar]] blocks, typical of late [[Ancient Carthage|Punic]] buildings.<ref name=gawharnicpmi/> Ancient [[cistern]]s have been found at the towers of Ta' Ġawhar and Ta' Ċieda.<ref name=cieda/>
The age and purpose of the towers is not exactly known. Although some theories suggest that the towers are prehistoric, it is generally believed that they date back to the late Punic period, as evidenced by their architecture as well as by pottery and other artefacts uncovered at Ta' Wilġa and Ta' Ġawhar. A Phoenician tomb was also found close to Ta' Wilġa Tower.<ref name=sagona2015/> Ta' Ġawhar Tower is believed to have been burnt twice, initially during the [[First Punic War]] and again in around the 3rd century AD.<ref name=schoolnet/> Coins dating back to 35 BC and the 3rd century AD have been found at Ta' Ġawhar, along with an iron ace and a gold earring. This shows that the towers were definitely in use during the Roman period. Several theories have been suggested as to the purpose of the towers:
*According to Professor A. Bonanno, the towers might have been built by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century BC, to defend the island from a Roman attack during the [[Punic Wars]].<ref name=cieda/>
*They might have been built to warn the garrison of the city of [[Mdina|Melita]] of an approaching enemy,<ref name="civilisation" /> but some disagree saying that their locations do not make sense in defensive systems.<ref name=gawharnicpmi/>
*They might have been located in hamlets, surrounding and defending a large settlement in the [[Żurrieq]]-[[Safi, Malta|Safi]] area.<ref name=sagona2015/>
*They might have been built near [[Roman villa|villas]] to guard olive estates, but no remains of villas have been found in the vicinity of any of the towers.<ref name=cieda/>
*At one point there were over thirty Roman villas in rural areas of which most remains were for most of them demolished for modern housing while others lie abandoned, buried and some have limited remains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolnet.gov.mt/history/wirt/Rumani/WirtRuman/WirtRumanNOTI.htm|title=Il|website=Schoolnet.gov.mt|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref>
*They might have been built to protect Malta from an attack by the [[Heruli]] people.<ref name="civilisation" />
The towers are believed to have been abandoned in around the 3rd century AD.<ref name=gawharnicpmi>{{cite web|title=Ta' Ġawhar Tower|url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/00021.pdf|website=National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands|date=16 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528140134/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/00021.pdf|archive-date=28 May 2015}}</ref>
==Archaeology==
Ta' Wilġa Tower was excavated by the Museums Department in 1910.<ref name=sagona2015>{{cite book|last1=Sagona|first1=Claudia|title=The Archaeology of Malta|date=2015|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781107006690|page=239|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qR5TCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA239}}</ref> Tal-Baqqari Tower was identified on 6 September 1920, but was never properly excavated.<ref name=zurrieq>{{cite web|title=Archaeology|url=http://zurrieqlocalcouncil.com/archaeology/|website=Żurrieq Local Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609080107/http://zurrieqlocalcouncil.com/archaeology/|archive-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> Ta' Ġawhar and Ta' Ċieda Towers were investigated by British archaeologist David Trump in 1960.<ref name=cieda/><ref name=gawharnicpmi/>
Ta' Wilġa and Ta' Ċieda towers were included on the Antiquities List of 1925.<ref>{{cite web|title=Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939.|url=https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=2627|website=[[Malta Environment and Planning Authority]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419101304/https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=2627|archive-date=19 April 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
The best preserved of the six towers is Ta' Ġawhar Tower, parts of which have survived up to seven courses. This tower is listed on the [[National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands]].<ref name=gawharnicpmi/>
==Other towers with possible Roman origins==
[[File:Xlejli Tower at Palazzo Dorell.jpeg|thumb|[[Xlejli Tower]], which might have Roman origins]]
The [[Xlejli Tower]] in [[Gudja]], which is still in good condition, also possibly has Roman origins. According to historian {{Interlanguage link multi|Louis de Boisgelin|fr|3=Pierre-Marie-Louis de Boisgelin de Kerdu}}, an urn full of Roman copper medals was found at the tower, and its round shape makes it similar to other Roman towers in Malta. However, according to other sources, the tower was built in the 12th or 13th century AD.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Graham|first1=Jimmy|title=Xlejli Tower, Bettina Palace|url=http://lecrac.blogspot.com.mt/2014/10/xlejli-tower-bettina-palace.html|website=Le Crac|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226013407/http://lecrac.blogspot.com.mt/2014/10/xlejli-tower-bettina-palace.html|archive-date=26 December 2015|date=7 October 2014}}</ref>
==Further reading==
* Luttrell, Anthony, [http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Hyphen/Hyphen.%204(1984)4/01.pdf "Malta Before 870: Some Libyan Connections"], pp.&nbsp;127–33.
* [https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/41143/1/Maltese%20fortifcations.pdf Maltese Fortifications]
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Roman remains in Malta}}
[[Category:Towers in Malta]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Malta]]
[[Category:Ruins in Malta]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman buildings and structures in Malta]]
[[Category:Abandoned buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Phoenician architecture]]