ISSN 2224-8722 Archaeological N - -- .(ltiTONIO (.(1\UU - 200 THE JOURNAL OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, MALTA ISSUE 9, 2008-2009 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY The Malta Archaeological Society was founded in 1993 and is a registered Voluntary Organisation (V /0 195). It is formed of members with a genuine interest in archaeology in general and that of the Maltese Islands in particular. Anyone with such an interest, whether a professional archaeologist or not, is welcome to join. The Society is concerned with all matters pertaining to archaeology. One of its principal objectives is to promote and enhance the study of archaeology at all levels. It is not a pressure group. It believes that it is only when there is a sufficient interest in, and understanding of, our archaeological heritage among the public at large, that this priceless heritage can be protected and preserved: The Society organizes meetings and seminars, which are open to the public, as well as site visits both in the Maltese Islands and abroad. It publishes the Malta Archaeological Review, an annual peer-reviewed journal devoted to articles, reports, notes and reviews relating to current research on the archaeology of the Maltese Islands. The Society endeavours to maintain close relations with Heritage Malta, with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, and also the Department of Classics and Archaeology of the University of Malta and to support their activities. Official address: Application for membership and all correspondence should be addressed to: The Archaeological Society, Malta The Hon. Secretary cl o Department of Classics and Archaeology Ms Ann Gingell Littlejohn B.A.(Hons), B.A. University of Malta Dar 1-Irdoss Msida MSD 2080 112, Triq il-Hemel MALTA Swieqi SWQ 3052 MALTA For online membership, access website at: www.archsoc.org.mt-----, Main Library THE ARCHAEOLO Class Mark MZG Patron: President: u 0 .(London), F.S.A. Hon. Secretary: N F No. of Volumes Hon. Treasurer: I M V Re, <L E A EDITORIAL BOAR R L rR~FERENCE ~. Editor: s T " ONLY 1 Deputy editors: I A ), B.A. Editorial assistant: T y 1111111 11111111111111111111 111111111111111111 *436967 * LIBRARY ©The Archaeological Society, Malta 2013 Published by Midsea Books Ltd (www.midseabooks.com) ISSN 2224-8722 MAl,TA ARCHAEOLOGICAL REVIEW Issue 9, 2008-2009 From the president 2 Society activities 3 ARTICLES 'Prehistoric painted pottery in Malta': a century later BY DAVIDE TANASI 5 Observations on the linguistic epigraphic choice in late antique inscriptions from Malta BY MARIA DoMENICA Lo FARO 14 Ancient anchors from Malta and Gozo BY ELAINE AZZOPARDI, T!MMY GAMBIN AND RENATA ZERAFA 22 Revisiting the Roman domus in Rabat, Malta, through a consideration of its mosaic flooring BY ANTONIO CASELLI 32 The known unknown: identification, provenancing, and relocation of pieces of decorative architecture from Roman public buildings and other private structures in Malta BY DAVID CARDONA 40 Wind funnelling underneath the Magar Qim protective shelter BY SIMON FARRUGIA AND JoHN A. SCHEMBRI 51 Experimental Archaeology BY CHRISTOPHER BusuTTIL 6o NOTES&NEWS The original discovery of the Roman shipwreck at Xlendi, Gozo BY JoHN WooD 67 Mapping ancient water management systems BY TIMMY GAMBIN 70 REVIEWS Ta' t=lagrat and Skorba: Ancient Monuments in a Modern World, edited by MariaElena Zammit and Joanne Mallia REVIEWED BY CAROLINE MALONE 73 Site, Artefacts and Landscape. Prehistoric Borg in-Nadur, Malta, edited by Davide Tanasi and Nicholas C. Vella REVIEWED BY ANTHONY BONANNO 74 An Archaeology of the Senses: Prehistoric Malta, by Robin Skeates REVIEWED BY REUBEN GRIMA 76 Ceramics of the Phoenician-Punic World: Collected Essays, edited by Claudia Sagona REVIEWED BY MAXINE ANASTASI 77 The Ggantija Temples. A History of its Visitors and Views, by Godwin Vella, Nicoline Sagona and John Cremona REVIEWED BY ANTON BUGEJA 79 Archaeological Review, 2008-2009, Issue 9 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT As one cannot in all fairness expect another issue of With Timmy Gambin now firmly installed as the Malta Archaeological Review to make it in time full-time senior lecturer in maritime archaeology at for the press witl:in the next seven months, I consider the University of Malta it is natural to expect that th~s to be the last edition that I shall be addressing underwater archaeology will become increasingly before the end of my second and final term of office more visible in the context of the Maltese islands. The as president of the Archaeological Society in January article on ancient anchors by him and two former 2014. Nevertheless, to see another issue ready for students of mine, one of whom also wrote her MA publication just over a year after the previous one is a dissertation under my direction, is a timely account so:uce of satisfaction and delight. For the purpose of and gazetteer of a generously represented category of writing this address I have had the privilege of reading this field of research. the contents of this number before it went to press, The newly introduced feature, Notes & News, to and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I am sure allow space for short contributions and updates, has that you will agree with me that with the introduction proved to be a bright idea, and I am sure it will be of peer reviewing the quality and the scholarly level of availed of increasingly in the future. I am told by the contributions have continued to improve. Some the editor that he would dearly welcome reports on cosmetic changes have also enhanced the appearance archaeological discoveries and interventions taking of the journal. place within specific periods. The Malta Archaeological The Society Activities section shows, once again, Review has in the past carried such reports and it how active the society has been in terms of both would be ideal to revive the feature. lectures and site visits. Finally, the Reviews section reflects the exponential The main artides range in scope from prehistoric increase in the interest in Maltese archaeology and archaeology to Roman, with a predominance of the the blossoming of literature on the subject by both lat::er - as many as four out of seven. The journal Maltese and foreign writers. has also venturd, I believe for the first time, into Hearty congratulations to the editor and his meteorological ~ssues of conservation and into editorial team for this great achievement, both in experimental archaeology. terms of scholarly output and for the greatly reduced The limited available space does not allow me time of gestation. At this rate, they have raised our to do justice to all the articles, but I cannot help hopes of catching up with the timely publication of making a special mention of three in which I was, to the journal within its calendar year - not an easy feat. a greater or lesser extent, personally involved as tutor in the student years of their contributors. Antonio Anthony Bonanno Caselli's contribution satisfies my longing to see his June 2013 un::lergraduate dissertation on the Roman domus mosaics develop and mature into a peer-reviewed article. David Cardona rewards us with the fruits of a small, but significant, section of the vast number of architectural decorative pieces he studied for his Master of Arts degree. 2 Malta Archaeological Review, 2008-2009, Issue 9 SOCIETY ACTIVITIES 21 May Mr David Cardona (Heritage Malta) 2008 Lecture: The Roman architectural decoration of the Maltese Islands 16January Prof. George E. Camilleri (University of Malta) 31 May Lecture: Teeth in Archaeology Dr Timmy Gambin (Aurora Trust) Site visit: Harbour work entitled 'On the trail of 26January Maltese Merchants' Dr Anton Bugeja (independent researcher) Site visit: Mosta area of Tal- Wej and environs (cart 25 October ruts, dolmen, tombs, cave) Dr Giulia Recchia (Missione Archeologica Italiana:1 Site visit: Tas-Silg (northern enclosure) 20 February Dr Nicholas Vella (University of Malta) and Mr 290ctober Nathaniel Cutajar (Superintendence of Cultural Dr Timmy Gambin (Aurora Trust) and Mr Keith Heritage) Buhagiar (independent researcher) Lecture: The Mgarr ix-Xini regional park project and Site visit: Exploring the ancient cisterrts ofMalta and excavations at Gnar ix-Xin, Gozo Gozo 1 March 19 November Dr Nicholas C. Vella (University of Malta) Prof. Paul Arthur (University ofLecce) Site visit: Borg in-Nadur and Ta' Kaccatura, Lecture: Byzantine and Turkish Hierapolis Bir:iebbuga 29November 12 March Dr Stephen Spiteri (Restoration Unit) and Mr Den:s Ms Bernadette Mercieca (independent researcher) A. Darmanin (independent researcher) Lecture: Funerary ritual in the Tarxien Cemetery Site visit: The gardens within the fortifications in the Period Floriana area 29 March 10 December Site visit led by Dr Stephen Spiteri (Restoration Unit) Ms Amelia Brown (independent researcher) Site visit: Ta' Kassisu and Armier coastal Lecture: Great maritime goddesses of the ancient entrenchments Mediterranean 16 April Mr Mario Vassallo (independent researcher) Lecture: The location of the Maltese Neolithic Temples 2009 21 April 21 January Prof. John Oakley (The Andrew W. Mellon Professor Prof. Anthony F. Harding (University· of Exeter) of Classical Studies at the American School of Lecture: War in the Bronze Age Classical Studies, Athens) Lecture: Children in Athenian Funerary Art during 31 January the Pelopormesian War Dr Anton Bugeja (independent researcher) and Mr Paul C. Saliba (Restoration Unit) 26April Site visit: Old Parish church of Siggiewi followed by .:z Dr Nicholas Vella (University of Malta) walk in the area of Cebel Ciantar and il-Wardija ta' Site visit: Day trip to Gozo San Gorg Malta Archaeological Review, 2008-2009, Issue 9 3 18 February 28May Prof. Anthony Bonanno, Nicholas Vella (University Ms Rebecca Farrugia (independent researcher) of Malta), Prof. Roald Docter (University of Ghent), Lecture: Early Metallurgy in the Maltese Islands. Mr Anthony Pace and Mr Nathaniel Cutajar (S-.Iperintendence of Cultural Heritage) 30May Lecture: The Malta Survey Project 2008: scope Mr Keith Buhagiar (independent researcher) and preliminary results of a joint Belgian-Maltese Site visit: Gnerien il-Lhud, Bingemma fieidwalking survey in northern Malta 17 October 28 February Prof.