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Ruffell, A, Hunt, CO, Grima, R, McLaughlin, R, Malone, C, Schembri, P, French, C and Stoddart, SKF (2018) Water and cosmology in the prehistoric Maltese world: Fault control on the hydrogeology of Ġgantija, Gozo (Maltese Islands). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 20. pp. 183-191. ISSN 2352-409X
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Ruffell et al JASREP_2017_606_Revision 2_V0 18.33.32.compressed.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
The dry limestone geology of the Maltese islands presented a challenging environment to prehistoric communities, who required reliable water sources to support agricultural subsistence. Ġgantija, one of the iconic Maltese Late Neolithic Temples on Gozo, and now a World Heritage Site, was surveyed using Ground Penetrating Radar to reveal a significant line of geological faulting running beneath the megalithic structure. The seepage of water from this fault had major implications for the siting of the monument. This seems to reflect a pattern of situating many of these key sites adjacent to ancient sources of water, as is shown by the close association of two thirds of these sites with toponym evidence for the presence of springs in the medieval period. It is possible that the prehistoric Maltese embraced this natural resource as part of the cosmology of their ritual sites. © 2018
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QE Geology |
| Divisions: | Natural Sciences & Psychology (closed 31 Aug 19) |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Jun 2018 09:39 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2021 10:25 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.05.002 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/8766 |
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