The scheduled Area of Archaeological Importance (AAI), which covers the locality of Mdina and parts of Rabat has recently been extended to incorporate the Tal-Virtu’ area. Today, the total protected area covers over 1.5 square kilometres. Concurrently, MEPA also scheduled 76 newly discovered archaeological sites within this area.

When in 1998, the Authority had scheduled Mdina and parts of Rabat as an Area of Archaeological Importance it had, together with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH), initiated monitoring procedures whenever planning permission was granted for development works to be carried out. While monitoring various sites within the area, the Authority and the SCH, discovered 76 new sites containing a number of archaeological features which relate mostly to two specific periods, the Bronze Age and the Classical period.

The Bronze Age spanned between 3300–1200 BC while the Classical period which incorporates the Phoenician, Punic and Roman periods had a continuous time span in access of a 1000 years (approx. 700BC-400/500AD).

It has to be appreciated that following the discovery of these archaeological remains, through the co-operation of the applicant, architect and contractor it was possible to incorporate the discovered archaeological remains through minor modifications of the original plans. This has ensured the proper documentation and preservation of the archaeological remains, whilst at the same time still permitting the completion of the approved development projects, essential for the local economy. Such an approach is a further step towards ensuring sustainable development.

All new finds provide important data that enables a further understanding of the complex layering and divisions of the urban fabric of the ancient city. Out of the 76 sites, approximately 39 consist of ancient burials; the more common types being small catacombs which generally consist of one or two corridors containing few burial chambers or recesses and occasionally also agape tables. Some more extensive catacombs have also been discovered with a notable example having baldacchino tombs, arcosolia and window tombs, and an impressive rock-cut scallop shell motif, a decorative element commonly found in Rome’s catacombs.

Modern day Rabat and Mdina overlie the extent of the ancient Roman city of Melite, which consisted of a residential and public area confined by the natural topography along its northern, western and eastern extents. A rock-cut ditch and fortifications ran along its southern extent which coincides with today’s Triq Santa Rita. The city was also provided with an extensive necropolis, which in line with Roman custom, was situated outside of the city walls. The necropolis (a large roman cemetery) was situated to the south of Triq Santa Rita spreading outwards till the Tal-Virtu’ promontory

Consecutive re-building and re-modeling of the area throughout the centuries has resulted in the destruction of the larger part of the ancient fabric and its necropolis. However, part of the remains survive buried beneath the modern city and in some cases these archaeological remains have been exposed, mostly during the 19th and 20th centuries, and are still visible at the surface, the most notable being the Roman Domus and the St. Paul’s and St Agatha catacombs.

Archaeological monitoring has also revealed examples of multi-period ancient fortifications within and around Mdina. Of interest is the occurrence of a number of cart-ruts within the urban area, since these features generally only survive within a rural context. Archaeological discoveries within the ancient residential/public areas have enabled a better understanding of the transition between the different archaeological phases as well as throwing new light on the Bronze Age period in the area. The importance of the scheduled archaeological remains lies not only within the value of the individual features themselves, but the information they can provide on ancient cultures and practices.

The extension to the boundary of the Rabat/Mdina Area of Archaeological Importance and the new scheduled sites were published in 1064/13 Government Gazzette.