The two 5000-year-old tombs discovered during extension work being carried out at the parish priest’s house in Kercem, and the pottery recovered on site, have been identified as belonging to the Tarxien phase of Maltese prehistory.

Although the rock-cut tombs may have been discovered during the construction of the Kercem parish church between 1846 and 1851, they remained undisturbed for another 163 years, before their re-discovery in 2008.

The tombs were uncovered when the site was being cleared of debris, and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage immediately took steps to protect the site. A temporary cover was installed to provide shelter from the rain, and the site was monitored and allowed to dry for an entire year.

In July archaeological excavations and anthropological investigations began. Such a discovery is a rare event in the archaeology of the Central Mediterranean. The rock-cut tombs add a significant element to Maltese prehistory, and once again shift attention to the importance of Kercem in antiquity.

The area is also known for older remains dating to Malta’s earlier Neolithic times, represented by the Ghar Dalam Phase at Mixta and Ghajn Abdul. During Late Antiquity, Ghar Gerduf in the lower environs of Kercem, served as a Christian burial ground, perhaps serving Roman Rabat.

The rock-cut chambers have a circular plan and were probably accessed through a special shaft or a roof entrance. One of the chambers has a small annex, which still contained fully articulated skeletons.

The structures were unfortunately truncated down to almost half their original height, so that only one metre or so of the bottom part of the chambers now survives. Except for the articulated burial remains in the small inner annex, the deposits in the larger chambers were disturbed.

The rock-cutting techniques used at the Kercem tombs are reminiscent of those used at the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, including drilling and levering techniques to crack stone and carefully shape the burial chambers.

Several drill holes can still be seen in the chamber walls, which were also smoothened down, perhaps by using hard pebbles. A small rock-cut column marked the entrance to the small annex whose floor is lower than that of the main chamber.

The fieldwork has now reached the most interesting stage of the excavation.

The small annex served both as an ossuary and a place for primary burials, the sides served as an ossuary. Some individuals were buried in a crouched position, recalling the pose of the iconic ‘Sleeping Lady’.

Pottery fragments are abundant at the Kercem tombs, which consist of fine ware vessels and coarse ware containers. Most of them date back to the Tarxien phase and repeat many of the designs known from that period.

A number of blades made of local chert were also discovered, as were small flakes of Sicilian flint. Future investigations will focus on pathology, carbon dating and if possible, on the more elusive DNA of the human remains.

A small community museum is now planned for the site, with the tombs being its central feature. The Superintendence is working closely with the Church authorities to mount a small permanent exhibition.

The display will feature controlled light levels, a purpose-designed viewing platform, display cases, information panels and an audiovisual presentation. Mgr Mario Grech, a frequent visitor to the site, is a keen supporter of the excavation and ongoing research.