The Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni in Malta oozes mystery and has so many rumours about it, that it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. In this video I give a detailed overview of this mysterious underground complex built by the temple people over five thousands years ago.
The megalith builders came to Malta in the Neolithic period and created stunning monuments where they practiced rituals that are little understood today. The Hypogeum Ħal Saflieni is thought to have been a both a necropolis and a sanctuary during the time it was in use, although there are many reasons why its history might be more complex than that.
Stunning artefacts and beautiful artwork were discovered during excavations which are similar to the overground temples, as well as having their own unique attributes. Find out more about the ochre spirals, the sleeping lady and the conical stones in this episode.
#ancienthistory #ancientmysteries #hypogeum #malta
✨ IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 Introduction
00:16 Excavation History
02:34 Structural Features
08:58 Wall Decorations
10:14 Interesting Finds
13:07 Human Bones
16:18 Weird Stones
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✨ REFERENCES
Bonanno, A., (2017). The Archaeology of Malta & Gozo. 5000 BC - 1091 AD. Kalkara: Heritage Malta Publishing.
Debertolis, P., Coimbra, F., & Eneix, L. (2015). Archaeoacoustic analysis of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta. Journal of Anthropology and Archaeology, 3(1), 59-79.
Griffiths, W. A. (1920). Malta: The halting place of nations. First account of the remarkable prehistoric tombs and temples recently unearthed on the island. The National Geographic magazine. Vol. 37(5), p. 445-478.
Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S., & Vella, N. (2020). Temple places: Excavating cultural sustainability in prehistoric Malta. [Book].
Mifsud, A., & Mifsud, S. (1999). The subterranean sanctuary at Ħal Saflieni. In A. Mifsud, & C. Savona Ventura (Eds.), Facets of Maltese Prehistory (pp. 149-168). Malta: Prehistoric Society of Malta.
Ridley, M. (1971). The megalithic art of the Maltese Islands. Hampshire: Dolphin P.
Trump, D.H. (2002). Malta Prehistory and Temples. Santa Venera: Midsea Books.
Zammit, T., Peet, E., and Bradley, R. N. (1912). The Small Objects and the Human Skulls Found in the Hal-Saflieni Prehistoric Hypogeum at Casal Paula, Malta. Malta: [s.n.]
✨ MUSIC CREDIT
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✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
Google Earth
Location of the Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni
Megalithic sites near the Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni
CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Figure lying face down on a bed, credit: Ethan Doyle White
CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Main hall on middle level, credit: Hamelin de Guettelet
Sleeping lady, credit: Jvdc
Public domain
Sir Themistocles Zammit
Xagħra Stone Circle
Ħal Saflieni layout
Holy of Holies
Oracle Room with red ochre spirals
Excavation report, skull measurements and skull photographs, credit: Zammit, T., in the paper referenced above.
All other photographs, credit: MegalithHunter