- Address: Triq L-Imqades, L-Imġarr, Malta
- Phone: +356 2158 0590
- Working hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - 9.00-16.30
- Entrance fee: adult - 3,5 euros, children from 12 to 17 years old - 3 euros, children from 6 to 11 years old - 2,5 euros, children under 6 years old - free of charge
One of the main historical monuments of Malta is the temple complex of Skorba, which is located in the north of the country near the settlement of Mgarr. It represents megalithic ruins and gives an idea of the earliest period of the local population in the Neolithic period.
General information about the Skobra temple in Malta
During the excavation of the Hajrat sanctuary by the archaeologist Temi Zammit in 1923, on the site of the Skobra temple, one vertical stone was peering out of the earth, which scientists ignored for almost forty years. From 1960 to 1963, David Trump began to conduct research here and discovered the ruins of the complex. Since in the middle of the 20th century there was already a good modern technology, when studying ancient buildings they were able to find and accurately obtain a huge number of various and valuable artifacts.
In Skorba there are two sanctuaries, which belong to different chronological periods: the first - Ggantija approximately 3600-3200 BC, the second - the Tarshien era about 3150-2500 BC, the last one was much worse.
The state of the Skobra temple complex in Malta
The Skobra temple itself has remained rather poorly preserved. Ruins represent a series of orthostats (vertical megaliths), the height of the largest stone reaches almost three and a half meters. Also came to our time the gates, altars, the lower part of the foundation of the temple and the foundation of the walls, stone paving slabs, having openings for libations and the paved floor of the three-pagan complex, the form of which is characteristic of the time of Ggantija chronology of Malta . Unfortunately, the main part of the facade and the first two apses were completely destroyed. The north side of the structure is best preserved.
Initially, the entrance to the sanctuary began in the courtyard, but later the gate was closed, and the altars were arranged in the corners. At the same time, a little bit of the east of the Skobra temple was built a monument with a central niche and four apses. Ceramic figurines and articles were also found, which are now considered important exhibits and are kept in the National Archaeological Museum in Valletta . Of the interesting specimens, a terracotta Goddess Mother, several statuettes of women and a skull of goats were found here. From all this, scientists concluded that in the temple, various rituals and rituals were held, dedicated to the goddess of fertility.
What used to be in the sanctuary?
Twelve centuries before the erection of the Skobra temple in Malta, in this very place was a village where the local population lived and worked. Archaeologists have discovered here two unique huts, dating from 4,400-4,100 BC. The long 11-meter wall, which starts from the central entrance to the sanctuary, was also excavated. Researchers found in the village working tools, stone products, bones of domestic and wild animals, the remains of various seeds: barley, lentils and wheat. This allowed scientists to restore the lifestyle of this period. All the findings refer to the era of Ghar-Dalam .
Also, during excavations, archaeologists discovered ceramics, which were divided into two categories:
- The first stage is called "gray Skorba", it dates from 4500-4400 years BC and coincides with the Sicilian ceramics of Serra d'Alto.
- The second category is called "red Skorba" and refers to 4400-4100 BC. It corresponds to the Sicilian ceramics of Diana.
For these two types, two prehistoric chronological periods were named in Malta.
How to visit the Skobe temple in Malta?
The historical monument is open for self-visit only three days a week and is accessible to visitors from 9.00 to 16.30. Because of the small size of the temple complex, no more than fifteen people can enter the territory at the same time. All over the sanctuary there are tablets with the description and the name of the exhibits. Tickets can be bought in Mgarra Cathedral from Monday to Saturday.
The city of Mgarr can be reached by green or blue excursion transport called "hop-on-hop-of-the-road" or by a regular bus with numbers 23, 225 and 101. And there are signs to the Skorba temple complex from the stop.
| | |
