Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta.
Special thanks to the head of department Dr Carmel Serracino.
Architecture of Power in 10th century Córdoba: research perspectives on the city-palace
Superintendence of Cultural Heritage 173 St Christopher Street, Valletta, MaltaMore than a thousand years ago, at the edge of Western Europe, 10th century Córdoba was the capital of Islamic Iberia, the “Jewel of the World”, symbolizing cultural and intellectual efflorescence. According to historical sources, the ruins of the mythical caliphal city-palace of Madīnat al-Zahrā were located a short distance further west of La Mezquita. The raison d’être of this citadel has been investigated from a multidisciplinary approach for more than two decades. The present investigation illustrates the significance of the roles of architecture, astronomy and philosophy at a time when Caliph Abd al-Rahman III embarked on building “The Brilliant City” in 941. While the elaborate artistic programme attests to the magnificence of the architectural styles, this research considers religious and philosophical factors as the possible prime motives behind the design of the royal ceremonial spaces.
Site visit to the WWII underground radar complex at Dingli
Dingli Cliffs Dingli Cliffs, Ħad-Dingli, MaltaThe first British Air Ministry Experimental System tested outside the UK, which later became known as Radar, was brought to Dingli and switched on on 27th March 1939. It was meant to be here on trial for six months. With the war being declared in September of the same year this system became the backbone of Malta's Early Warning System, detecting air raids as soon as hostile aircraft got airborne from Sicily.
Immediately a second system was sent out for reliability requirements.
A third system arrived at Dingli Cliffs in January 1941, which was a completely different system meant for low level and surface detection.
Ground to Air communications systems, Wireless Telegraphic systems, VHF Direction Finding and a set of Interference and Eavesdropping systems were also installed along Dingli Cliffs, between the Maddalena Chapel and tal-Pitkal. A number of Barracks were also built with RAF Dingli becoming a Unit entity.
As the war ended, three radar systems were installed at tal-Pitkal which were withdrawn in the early 50s.
Why is that column so small? The things I wish I had known before creating digital models (but was too embarrassed to ask)
Superintendence of Cultural Heritage 173 St Christopher Street, Valletta, MaltaWith its long tradition of trade contacts with the eastern Mediterranean, coupled with the productivity of the region of Campania, by the 1st C AD Pozzuoli rapidly became a centre for technical and commercial expertise. Its richness in archaeological remains, coupled with its unique geological setting, has resulted in a wealth of scholarly research, particularly on specific public monuments of the port.
Pozzuoli has also been represented in many ways throughout various periods in time – paintings, etchings, narratives. A digital visualization is another form of representation that can be added to the port’s repertoire of descriptions. The talk will look at some of the more interesting aspects of the speaker’s PhD thesis, namely Pozzuoli’s geography and archaeology. It will also undertake a critical assessment of some of the digital models, and in particular how they were built using the methodology principles set out by the London Charter: what worked, what did not work – and what the speaker wished she had known at the time.
Site visit to St Paul’s Catacombs and visitor centre in Rabat
St Paul's Catacombs St Paul's Catacombs, Hal-Bajjada, Rabat, MaltaLed by Mr David Cardona, acting senior curator Phoenician, Roman and medieval sites, Heritage Malta. Heritage Malta is kindly offering members a special entrance fee. Meeting [...]
The use of ancient DNA studies in a Maltese archaeological context
Superintendence of Cultural Heritage 173 St Christopher Street, Valletta, MaltaThe study of ancient DNA is becoming increasingly useful for gaining information which
cannot be obtained through traditional archaeological methods. The Maltese climate is not
well suited to ancient DNA preservation, and prior to Dr Josef Caruana’s Ph.D. work, no studies on DNA in a Maltese archaeological context had been carried out. Dr Caruana, a curator at Heritage Malta, will give a presentation of the work conducted on samples taken from one Temple period and two late Roman archaeological sites in Malta. Dr Caruana’s talk will also consider the limitations of such studies.