GGANTIJA ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Located on the Xagħra plateau, the Ġgantija archaeological complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex is older than the pyramids of Egypt and consists of two structures built, approximately, between 3600 and 3200 B.C. They have the shape of two trefoils, one with five apses (the southern complex), the other with four (the northern complex), both enclosed by a common megalithic wall. For the most part, this monumental complex is built in locally sourced coral limestone, with a few exceptions, such as the doors and interior furnishings, which were built in softer globigerine limestone.
The southern complex comprises five rooms of unequal dimensions. In the first room, on the left as you enter, small fragments of plaster washed with red ochre were discovered on part of the wall. This indicates that the rough rocks visible today may have been covered in the past. A number of holes have been made in the original paving and although their purpose cannot be known, it is thought that they would have been used for specialized ritual activities. One of the most lavishly furnished apses still bears the remains of spiral reliefs that were elaborated to decorate the globigerine surfaces.
On both sites, most of the doors feature perforations. It is thought that these may have been used to place wooden pegs, but also, apparently, to block the entrance, if necessary. Note that the walls of the apses are not perfectly vertical, but slope slightly inwards, indicating the presence of a corbel that may have been part of the monument's framework. The sophisticated and complex architecture of this megalithic site testifies to the extraordinary level of ingenuity and creativity of the islanders in prehistoric times. Because of the monumental scale of the site, it was once attributed to the work of giants who, according to mythological tales, populated the islands in forgotten times. This is thought to be the reason for the site's name, since Ġgantija could be derived from the word giant or giantess. A visit to the archaeological park is made all the more enjoyable by a unique panorama highlighting the island's distinctive hilly relief. An interpretation center is located at the park entrance.