San Pawl Milqi , Burmarrad , Malta – Presentation of a Multi-Cultural Site in a Changing Landscape
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Section III: Evolving townscapes and landscapes within their settings: managing dynamic change Section III: Gérer le changement – les villes et les paysages dans leur milieu SAN PAWL MILQI , BURMARRAD , MALTA – PRESENTATION OF A MULTI-CULTURAL SITE IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE Shirley Cefai , / Malta / Italy Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Malta Joann Cassar / Malta / Italy Institute for Masonry and Construction Research, University of Malta Davide Locatelli / Malta / Italy Missione Archeologica Italiana, c/o Istituto di Archeologia, Università Cattolica di Milano, Italy Location and landscape considered a substantial morphogenetic issue, as an agent for chemical and physical erosion, and for the transport and deposition of sediment. As a result of alluvium, the original San Pawl Milqi is to be found in the North-Eastern part of coastline has radically changed: Salina Bay is supposed to the island of Malta (Figure 1). The church dedicated to San have been a deep inlet coming almost to the base of Gebel Pawl Milqi (Saint Paul “welcomed”) and the archaeological Ghawzara1. The plain, once a harbour, is now silted as a remains all around it stand about half way up the slope of result of sedimentation, due to continuous soil movement or Gebel Ghawzara, a 116 m high hill which represents the sudden events such as flash floods. oriental offshoot of Wardija Ridge. The site overlooks Burmarrad valley, today an agricultural plain, near to the In addition, agricultural terraces built up over centuries all Bugibba promontory and Qawra point to the NW, to over the slopes of the valleys had a deep impact on the Tal-Qadi and Ghallis Point to the NE, and opened to the th appearance of the surroundings of San Pawl Milqi, and even N-NE on the narrow inlet of Salina, where 16 century today the building expansion of the urban centre of saltpans are still operational. Burmarrad is encroaching on the hill. The area presents the classic geological sequence of the In such a landscape, San Pawl Milqi is to be found in a Maltese Islands (Pedley et al., 2002): the Upper Coralline position of control, situated on a wide natural terrace that Limestone cap on top of Gebel Ghawzara covers a layer of breaks the North-Eastern slope of Gebel Ghawzara. The Globigerina Limestone: along the contact line between the Baroque church that dominates the archaeological site two different kinds of limestone, vegetation (bushes, carob (Figure 2) stands as a real landmark, visible from all over the trees and a few olive trees) marks the spring line due to the area from the North, South, East and West, and above all presence of a layer of Blue Clay and reveals the presence of for all who approached the coast from North to East. In this cavities: along the hill, reeds indicate water circulation and dominating position, the archaeological area is exposed to catchment points. often strong winds from the North East and from the North West which often batter the church and the archaeological On the lower part, the sides of the hill are cultivated in remains. wide terraces. All the area is very fertile and the soil is enriched with phosphorite coming from the Globigerina Recent archaeological studies have confirmed that the site layer. In addition, all the area is rich in water, and it is likely was originally situated on an important harbour that is now to have been one of the most productive areas of the island silted, and was surrounded by agricultural land2. The whole even in antiquity. area is rich in archaeological remains belonging to different periods. Settlement continuity in the area shows that fertility Burmarrad plain is at the confluence of different valleys and hydrogeological conditions (the presence of springs and coming from the central part of the Great Fault (Wied water, and the possibility of commanding a natural harbour) il-Ghasel) and from the south-oriental part of Wardija Ridge must have been considered very favourable for settlement (Ghajn Rihana, Wied ta’ l-Arkata, Wied Qanotta). In effect, from the Neolithic period onwards. The same area, in its the plain is one of the main water catchment areas in Malta, and is the most important one together with the Marsa area. Diachronic analysis of the area shows the picture of a 1 BRUNO 2004, 32; T. Gambin (PhD Bristol University), personal changing landscape, modified by natural and human communication. activities. Within the evolutionary framework, water is to be 2 T. Gambin, personal communication. Monuments and sites in their setting-Conserving cultural heritage in changing townscapes and landscapes Section III: Evolving townscapes and landscapes within their settings: managing dynamic change Section III: Gérer le changement – les villes et les paysages dans leur milieu evolution, probably required the settlers to adopt specific Potential and value of the site adaptation strategies to meet some of the changes such as silting, for example, or soil erosion. As in other parts of the Research carried out to date on the site shows its huge Maltese Islands, terraced rubble walls represent a typical potential, from scientific, archaeological, historical and feature of the landscape, to delineate properties, but above educational points of view. The value of San Pawl Milqi in all as a natural answer to the climatic and hydrogeological the Maltese and Mediterranean context is great. This is one situation, with the creation of agricultural surfaces and the of the many Roman Villas that are known from surveys retention of moisture in cultivated land and the protection carried out all around the Maltese territory, and the only one from wind and water erosion. where research has been carried out in depth. Further excavations will enhance knowledge of economic, cultural, The multi-cultural site and social issues affecting the Maltese Islands from the Punic to the Arab period. Were a museographic project to be The most prominent feature of this impressive and carried out on the site, this will put scholars and the general important site is the small 17th century church dedicated to public in a better position towards gaining a more San Pawl Milqi. In the area surrounding this church, comprehensive idea of all the historic periods of the island. archaeological excavations brought to light evidence of The monument as a whole, with the archaeological features prehistoric settlement (from 6000 to 3500 years BC), and the little church dedicated to Saint Paul, would form an followed by the structures of a little Punic farmhouse (from important part of the cultural heritage of the Maltese Islands, 4th to 3rd century BC) that had evolved into a rural Villa by and serve as a primary educational resource for the future the end of the 2nd century B.C., when Malta was already generations. under the Roman rule. The Villa was still in use at least to the 4th century AD, with residential quarters and adjoining Besides, popular tradition states that the residence of structures aimed at the production of olive oil. This Publius, the then Roman Governor of the island, who important complex kept developing different forms at least welcomed the Apostle to Malta in 60 A.D., was situated here. up to the Byzantine and Arab period (6th-9th century AD). This connection, even if not confirmed by archaeological After the Medieval period, there is evidence that at least one evidence, makes San Pawl Milqi an important focus within church was constructed on site: the one that exists to the the religious landscape of the Maltese Islands, as a place of present day was built in the first half of the 17th century pilgrimage for the Maltese and for foreigners. (Missione 1963-1964). Most importantly, the area is a very good example of an Besides this 17th century church, the most impressive ever-changing cultural landscape. The site has unfortunately features of the site are the archaeological remains of the always been out of the usual visitor itinerary. Previous Roman Villa, which extends over a surface area of 2500 m2 attempts to open the area to the general public have proved on different levels, all around and even under the Baroque unsuccessful, in spite of the obvious potential of the building (Figure 3). Limestone walls (in Globigerina as well monument. The importance of the site necessitates a new as Coralline Limestone), preserved up to a height of two project that will lead to its proper presentation, a fact meters, delineate regular rooms paved with cocciopesto (a which will also help put it on the cultural map of Malta, a lime-based durable flooring material) or stone floors. The place which it lacks but which it richly deserves. Protection, walls are decorated with frescoes that are partially preserved. conservation and use of cultural heritage are also major Olive presses and oil vats are still there to show the rural and economic issues, since they drive the sustainable growth of economic activity of the settlement. tourism. This is even more valid today as there is a healthy demand for cultural tourism. During the 1960s, a boundary wall was built which incorporates an area of approximately 4000 m2 (Figure 4). A project for San Pawl Milqi is thus deemed necessary so Unfortunately the boundary wall does not include all the as to give the site its proper value and to have a say in how archaeological structures: some of these are found behind the landscape will change in the future. A museographic the church, on the other side of a small country-road that project, together with a conservation project, are urgently deeply cuts the rock in the North-West part of the required to protect and preserve the site and most archaeological area, exposing the soft yellowish layers of importantly to correctly enhance the didactic value of the Globigerina Limestone and even cutting through some of the site by presenting it to the public in an appropriate and archaeological features.