Department of Museums

165 both locally and abroad. The more important events were: • February 2001. Presentation by the Comune di Department of Napoli of a replica of the Tessera Hospitalis - Malta's Museums most ancient political document dating to the 200 century BC; • April to May 200 I. Social Rhythms; Natural Rhythms; an exhibition of works by the Australian artist in residence John Stan:field; • May to July 2001. Sacred Spaces in Prehistory; an MISSION exhibition held in coiJaboration with the Department of Youth and Sport consisting of ninety Neolithic artefacts, The Department's mission is to ensure, by means of its hosted at the Antico Monasterio di Santa Chiara in San diverse services, that present and future generations are Marino, as part of Malta's participation to the European able to derive cultural, educational and economic Small Nations Games; benefit from Malta's heritage. • In October, a start was made on the comprehensive cataloguing of the Museum's ancient coin coiJection, ARCHAEOLOGY SECTION both that on display, as weiJ as the reserve collection. This activity was initiated with the assistance of Dr Museums and CoUections Claudia Perass~ a lecturer in classical numismatics at National Museum of Archaeology the Universita La Cattolica of Milan; • In December, the Museum in collaboration with the Important initiatives linked to the conservation of the Department of Chemistry of the Universita La Sapienza National Archaeological Collection and to the extension of Rome carried out a number of non-impacting of the display at the Auberge de Provence were under archaeometric investigations on a sample of ancient taken. Critical tenders for the procurement of 69 high Phoenician and Roman items of personal decoration. quality museum showcases and for exhibition display The tests intended to throw new Light on the material were adjudicated. Similarly, conservation in metallurgical techniques that went into the manufacture terventions on a range of Bronze Age artefacts were of these items and on establishing their exact chemical entrusted to Dott S Guido, in view of the Museum's composition. This activity was carried out in parallel programme of exhibitions planned for 200 1/ 2002. with the JewelMed INCOMED Project and was largely These conservation works were funded through a gen funded by Italy's Centro Nazionale per la Ricerca; erous grant from the Paul Getty Foundation. A number • December 200 I to January 2002. Prehistoric of improvements were carried out to the existing Treasures of an Island; an exhibition held in Neolithic Gallery at the Auberge de Provence, as well collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority and as the Curatorial Offices. Other interventions included consisting of one hundred and forty Neolithic and the fitting of waterproof membrane over part of the Bronze Age artefacts, hosted at the KBC Bank Ga llery Auberge's roof, the installation of a security video inter in the Grand Place of Brussels. com at the front door and the installation of a radio link with the external sites and with the Police General HQ. External Sites Museum of Roman Antiquities In 200 I, a comprehensive programme of infrastruc tural works was carried out at many of the external Preparations and tender processing were undertaken in sites and monuments under the care of the Section. 200 1 in view of planned upgrading of the display at this The works, which are expected to proceed in 2002, site in 2002, in collaboration with the Malta Tourism were aimed at upgrading existing services and security Authority. All the roofs were treated for waterproofing. arrangements, as well as at introducing new infra structure where these are missing. Special Initiatives Mnajdra During 200 I, a number of travelling exhibitions and other events were organised by the National Museum On the night of 13 Apri l 200 I, unknown individuals of Archaeology with the aim of highlighting the ex penetrated into the perimeter fence of the Mnajdra ceptional quality of Malta's archaeological heritage Temples and upset close to sixty megaliths from their 166 original location. Worst hit were the internal apses of lateral apses of the main temple complex. Works were the Middle Temple, while some damage was also carried out on the principle of anastylosis in which all caused in the Lower Temple. This violent vandalistic the collapsed megaliths were put back in their original attack on Malta's archaeological heritage caused wide structural position. New falseworks were erected in spread consternation throughout the world. two locations within the main temple in areas judged to be prone to collapse - these works were designed to An intensive programme of conservation works was be as visually inoffensive as possible. launched by the Seetion immediately after the attack. Extensive recording of the damage caused to the tem Security at Hagar Qirn was increased with the ples was carried out, both through photogrammetry introduction of a prefabricated watchman's hut on site and through conventional documentation and survey and the installation of a generator. The electricity ing media. Archaeological investigations of the areas supply is furthermore being upgraded with the disturbed by the vandals were also carried out by the construction of a sub-station and the extension of curatorial staff of the National Museum of power cables to within the enclosure at Hagar Qirn. A Archaeology, particularly at the rear of the Middle radio link has also been installed, thereby keeping the Temple. These investigations helped establish the staff on site in constant contact with other extent of earlier, largely undocumented restoration departmental sites and with the Police. exercises on this site. As with Hagar Qim, the conser vation project at Mnajdra followed the principle of Skorba and Ta' Hagrat anastylosis with all the fallen megaliths being carefully placed into their original position. A number of facilities were installed at the Skorba and Ta' Hagrat temples to permit the introduction of a An extensive number of infrastructural works were twenty-four-hour watch at this site. By the end ofthe also installed on site, with particular attention being year a prefabricated watchman's hut had been installed dedicated to security-related issues. A full comple on both sites. Mains power supply was also ment of watchmen has been assigned to site, thereby introduced at Ta' Hagrat. At Skorba the perimeter ensuring a twenty-four-hour watch at this monument. fence was considerably strengthened and repairs were The assistance of the Police and Army patrols ensures carried out to the rubble wall terracing encircling part a greater degree of security at this, as well as at other of the site. archaeological sites in Malta. The temporary fence built in 1996 was further strengthened, while con Tarxien Temples struction works on a larger security fence around the site was almost completed by the end of the year. A The twenty-four-hour watch at this site was increased new timber Ticketing Booth together with a prefabri with a further complement of watchmen. The logistics cated watchman 's hut was installed to provide addi at this site were improved with the installation of a tional shelter for the increased number of staff working three-phase power supply to replace the older on site. Other features include a temporary electricity inadequate installation. This allowed powering of the generator, night lighting, mobile sanitary facilities and electrical system on site, which now also includes a radio link with the Police and with other depart night lighting. Various maintenance works were mental sites. carried out, which include the waterproofmg of roofs over reception areas and repairs to the walkways. A In June and December, delegates from the Archaeology small-scale investigation was carried out on the area Section accompanied Malta's Ambassador at meetings affected by the 1999 collapse. It was established that of the Bureau of the UNESCO World Heritage the blocks dislodged by this event had in fact consisted Committee to report on the situation at Mnajdra and of an early 20th century reconstruction. It wa;:; also Hagar Qim following the incident of 13th April 2001. possible to establish that the prehistoric situation of On both occasions the Bureau expressed its full this part of the Tarxien Temples did not conform appreciation of the measures introduced by the Maltese entirely to the modern day reconstruction. Government to increase security on these World Heritage Monuments. Tas-Silg Hagar Qim Various security features were introduced on site, in cluding a twenty-four-hour watchmen service, the Conservation works at this site included the repair of introduction of electrical supply to site, the installation the damage caused by the 1996 collapse in one of the of a prefabricated watchmen's hut and of sanitary 167 facilities. Repairs and improvements to the perimeter archaeology. The most important sondage was carried wall - including the construction of a new gate for out in St Paul's Square where a massive ashlar wall as heavy vehicles and machinery - were also carried out. sociated to two flagstone surfaces was documented. Research excavations were carried out by the Missione These features appear to be datable to the Roman Archeologica Italiana a Malta and by the University of Imperial period and earlier, although later Medieval Malta respectively in the site's north and south sectors. strata were also documented. The Missione Archeologica also conducted important conservation works at various areas of the monument, Ghajn Klieb (Rabat) - A large, sealed tomb chamber which had been damaged by prolonged exposure to was discovered at tills location during the laying of the elements and noxious root activity. These conser electricity cables not far from other documented buri vation works were carried out by a team of conserva als of the Phoenician as well as of later Classical tion technicians directed from the Istituto Centrale per periods.

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