Heritage Malta has moved two unique megaliths at Tarxien Temples indoors in a bid to save what could possibly be the oldest representations of sea-faring vessels ever found. The initiatives forms part of a conservation project on Tarxien Temples funded by Bank Of Valletta.

Other megaliths decorated with relief carvings depicting spirals, animals and other designs were moved to the National Museum of Archaeology in the 1950s. The megaliths with graffiti of ships were left on site as they appeared to be in a good state of preservation. However, continuous exposure to fluctuating temperatures, wind, rain and rising damp were leading to the rapid deterioration of these megaliths and threatening the preservation of the graffiti. Extensive studies were carried out by the Scientific Committee for the Conservation of the Megalithic Temples, set up by the Ministry for Culture and Tourism in 2004. Following these studies, the Committee recommended that the so-called ship graffiti megaliths be moved indoors. Heritage Malta conservators first treated the megaliths so that no more material is lost from their surfaces. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage also carried out excavations close to the megaliths. This excavation enabled a study of the megaliths’ foundations and contributed to the design of the method that was to be used for their transportation.

The transfer of the megaliths was a delicate operation that involved both conservation and safety issues. Conservators and other professionals from Heritage Malta oversaw the complete assignment.

Heritage Malta conservators will now be able to carry out additional interventions on the megaliths to ensure their preservation. The ship graffiti megaliths have been placed in the existing visitors’ building at Tarxien Temples for viewing. The megaliths will eventually be displayed at the new Visitor Centre to be built close to the site as is part of the BOV Tarxien Temples Project.