Archaeologists are currently monitoring on-going excavation works at the Bulebel Industrial Estate, limits of Żejtun, under the supervision of the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, after a number of tombs were discovered last week, cultural heritage NGO Wirt iz-Żejtun reported on its website.

Some weeks ago, following the issue of a Mepa development permit, a disused factory was demolished to make way for a modern extension to the Actavis Ltd factory.

After most of the building debris had been removed and work started on cleaning the rock surface, a number of rock-hewn features came to light.

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage was informed about the discovery and took immediate action to start its investigations. The building debris that was still on site was cleared under constant monitoring of representatives of the regulatory authority.

Officials from Wirt iż-Żejtun have seen a number of large rock-hewn tombs, possibly four in number. One of the tombs seems to have been partly filled in with concrete during the construction of the original factory, possibly in the 1970s. After checking Mepa’s website, it does not seem that the area was ever reported to be of archaeological interest, and thus had no such constraints imposed on it.

Close to one of the tombs there is a section through a bell-shaped well. A number of large dressed stone blocks have also been observed piled up in heaps very close to the rock-hewn features.

An interesting fact is that this site lies approximately 700m northwest of the latest similar discovery made during excavation work for a new hospital off tal-Barrani Road. However, the number of tombs discovered so far in this new site is much less than those at tal-Barrani, but the recently discovered tombs are much larger than those at tal-Barrani.

The area in question is known as Il-Bur ta’ Wara l-Andar and located along Sqaq il-Merħla. Topographically, the site is on top of one of the hills that surround the plain of tal-Barrani.

Wirt iż-Żejtun commented: “We look forward to reading the reports to be drawn up by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage following the detailed studies normally done in the course of such discoveries. We also sincerely hope that the authorities will reach a sensible balance between economic investment and the protection of our cultural heritage, and that all necessary measures are taken to safeguard these tombs.”