Phoenician Rock Cut tombs at Maghlaq

The Maghlaq Phoenician Rock cut tombs are another interesting and large family vault in good preservation, on the brow of the Mghalaq valley, about a quarter of a mile to the northwest of the Mnajdra temples, in a rural tenement denominated Habel l-Abjad.

This sepulchral vault was explored the first time by Dr L. Adams and Bishop Errington in 1865 and surveyed in 1893.

A small arched opening leads into a subterranean galley excavated in the rock, whilst another leads into a small separate circular and vaulted cell. Over this entrance, a semi oval depression covered still in part with red cement was probably intended for a tablet. This simple circular cave was fitted for two interments with two coffin shaped hollows for the reception of two corpses, on the ground.

At the other entrance, four steps lead down into the gallery, in the sides of which are excavated the tomb-caves that have served for the interment of two bodies each, clearly indicated by the usual receptacles with the semi-lunar cavities at the wide extremity for the rest of the head. The sides of these galleries contain several hollows for the location of lamps.

A slab within a framework girding the opening closed each cell. Lateral hooks, in the aperture seem to show that the closing slab was occasionally secured by cross bars. The arch over the aperture of one of the cells is ornamented with diverging rays from a centre, like those of a scallop shell.

This little catacomb, does not offer any Christian symbols, and though it may belong to an early age, during which Christianity was introduced into Malta, it is strictly pagan.

The whole district, as far as the brow of Mnajdra hill, is called Qasam il-Hofor on account of the great number of Phoenician caves of the same type existing in that locality.

In the vicinity of some of these cave-tombs are found small oval recesses, separated from the principal subterraneans by an intervening rock-wall about 15 centimeters thick, and communicating with them through a regular opening surrounded by a frame-work to receive the closing stone.

These small recesses shut off from the general cavity, without the fittings for interment, have suggested that they may have been used as shrines for funeral worship, or as places where the votive offerings of the relatives and friends of the deceased may have been preserved.

The remarkable feature of such sepulchers and shrines is the nicety and regularity with which the various internal details have been carried out.

Entrance to one of the Phoenician Rock cut tombs found at Qasam il-Hofor l/o Maghlaq, Qrendi

Entrance to a circular cave was fitted for two interments with two coffin shaped hollows for the reception of two corpses, within the same tombs

A slab within a framework girding the opening closed each cell. Lateral hooks, in the aperture seem to show that the closing slab was occasionally secured by cross bars.

The Phoenician presence in Malta lasted between 1,200 and 1,000 BC thus making the Mghalaq Rock Tomb structures the oldest monuments at Qrendi after those of Neolithic origins, namely Mnadjra, Hagar Qim, Misqa Tanks and the Misrah is-Sinjura Dolmen.

Most historians have interpreted the meaning of the Qrendi Motto to be attributed to “Phoenician Buildings” found in the village’s vicinity. Presumably these writers were referring to the Neolithic Temples of Hagar Qim and Mnadjra formerly thought to be of Phoenician origin. Or could the Maghlaq Phoenician Rock Tombs be the actual “Phoenicians buildings” associated with the Qrendi Motto?

TYRIUM DIRUTAS SERVO MOLES

(“ Conserve the Buildings of the Phoenicians - Inhares il-Bini tal-Fenici”)