Malta Arch is asking members of the public to email the Planning Authority at [email protected] by 9 February and object to the destruction of the Tal-Wej area in Naxxar. (The email must have the subject heading PA/09387/17.) 

The Tal-Wej area in Naxxar is a Class A Area of Archaeological Importanceandis of major environmental significance.There is currently an application for the removal of the topsoil of this region, an act of profound environmental and archaeological destruction.

The application states that the removal of soil is for “archaeological study.”However, this action obliterates archaeological information. It alsothreatens a rare rock pool habitat—an areacontaining critically threatened species such as the tadpole shrimp andendemic species such as the painted frog.

Malta Arch (a community group that advocates for the protection of Maltese Archaeology)fears that this “archaeological study” is merely a pretext for future development—such as we have seen with the recent destruction of the site at tal-Qares, Mosta

The Archaeological Society Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa have already expressed “disappointment that this application should even be under consideration.” Upon this site are Punic tombs and cart ruts—the surrounding soil contains information that can be used to date to these features. Removing this soil under the pretext of an archaeological investigation is “unwarranted, methodologically flawed and damaging.”

Any development, whatsoever, needs to be banned. This region needs to be protected for scientific and archaeological study, as well as for the enjoyment of future generations.

On behalf of Malta Arch, we thank you for taking action to preserve and protect Malta’s archaeology and environment.

Dawn Adrienne Saliba, Ph.D.

Founding Member, Malta Arch