PN Leader Bernard Grech visited Latnija Cave in Mellieħa, and called for the necessary investment to be made in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Malta - now that this site is officially protected - to ensure that appropriate laboratory and research facilities are available for further analysis of discoveries of this magnitude.

Grech visited this archaeological site following recent confirmation that the earliest evidence of human presence in Malta, dating back 8,500 years, was found here. This groundbreaking discovery rewrites Malta's prehistory, pushing back the timeline of human habitation by a thousand years, the PN said.

The site is now closed to the public to allow further excavation and research.

Accompanied by Shadow Ministers Julie Zahra, Ryan Callus and Claudette Buttigieg, as well as Mellieħa Mayor Gabriel Micallef and PN Local Councillors, Bernard Grech met with University of Malta Professor Eleonor Scerri, who together with Professor Nicholas Vella led the excavation works that began in 2019 and culminated in this extraordinary discovery. Also present was the CEO of the University of Malta's Research Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) Wilfred Kenely.

In this location, also known as Għar Tuta, researchers identified evidence that Malta's first inhabitants were hunter-gatherers, not Neolithic farmers as previously assumed. The crossing from Sicily is now considered the earliest and longest of its kind in the region.

Bernard Grech praised the archaeological work and the dedication of all those involved in this remarkable find. He stated that the country is proud of its researchers and scientists, both in archaeology and in the broader field of advanced research. He described the discovery as being as significant as that of Sir Temi Zammit, who had identified Malta's Megalithic Temples.

He also added that these are important discoveries which show how climate change has affected the country over time; something that opens our eyes to the potential effects that today's climate change could have in the years to come.

The PN said it remains committed to giving due importance to research and the historical heritage of our country, both of which are pillars of our national identity.