National Museum of Archaeology, Malta

12/06/2026

ĠDID fil-Curator's Corner għall-Jiem Ewropej tal-Arkeoloġija!

Dan il- bust ġie skavat fil-qiegħ ta’ ċisterna forma ta’ “L” qrib is-swar tal-Imdina waqt skavi dokumentati minn Sir Temi Zammit fl-1920 tad- Domvs Romana ġewwa Rabat, Malta. Bl-għajnejn forma ta’ lewż u x-xagħar stilizzat tiegħu, dan il-bust juri xebh notevoli mat-tradizzjonijiet artistiċi Feniċi–Puniċi tal-Mediterran ċentrali u tal-Punent.

Madankollu, għad hemm ħafna mistoqsijiet mingħajr tweġiba. Kif spiċċa oġġett b’affinitajiet Puniċi f’kuntest ta’ żmien ir-Rumani? Reġa’ ntuża, jew ġie depożitat sekli wara li nħoloq?

Żur il-Curator's Corner fil-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arkeoloġija fil-Belt Valletta matul il-Jiem Ewropej tal-Arkeoloġija u skopri aktar dwar il-passat għani u kumpless ta’ Malta.


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NEW in the Curator's Corner for European Archaeology Days!

This bust was excavated from the bottom of an L-shaped cistern near the Mdina bastions during excavations documented by Sir Temi Zammit in 1920 at the Domvs Romana in Rabat, Malta. With its almond-shaped eyes and stylised hair, the sculpture bears striking similarities to Phoenician–Punic artistic traditions found across the central and western Mediterranean.

Yet many questions remain. How did an object with apparent Punic affinities end up in a Roman-period context? Was it reused, or deposited centuries after it was created?

Visit our Curator's Corner at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, during the European Archaeology Days and explore Malta's rich and complex past.

03/06/2026

18/05/2026

On International Museum Day, we remember an important chapter in Maltese museology.

In January 1958, the first National Museum opened in Valletta, bringing together Malta’s archaeological heritage and fine arts collections under one roof.

Shown here is the old Phoenician-Punic Room, which once displayed some of the most important artefacts from this period. A reminder of how the National Museum of Archaeology continues to preserve and celebrate our shared Maltese heritage for generations.

23/04/2026

Maltese archaeology is featured at the LRCW8 Conference (Late Roman Coarse Wares 8 ), currently taking place in the medieval town of Ravenna, Italy.

The keynote address by NMA Curator for Medieval Archaeology, Nathaniel Cutajar, on Mediterranean islands was very well received. Equally successful was the paper on the Salina Bay excavation, which is currently ongoing under the direction of Prof. Timmy Gambin (UCHU).

The LRCW experience has once again demonstrated how important Maltese ceramic studies are for better understanding Roman and Medieval archaeology in the Mediterranean.

18/03/2026

🪦 Domesticus, the Kind Christian Doctor – CIG IV 9451

Discovered in the mid-18th century at St Joseph Oratory in Rabat, this fragmented marble relief offers a glimpse into Malta’s early Christian past.

The Greek inscription reads:
“Here lies Domesticus, the kindly Christian and doctor. He lived for 73 years and died on 15 (?25) January… in the consulship of…”

This funerary inscription commemorates Domesticus, a man remembered not only for his profession as a doctor but also for his faith and character. It highlights the presence of medical practice in the Maltese Islands and reflects the religious and social landscape during the Byzantine period and the era of Early Christianity in Malta. This relief, part of the Reserve Collection is exhibited for a limited period at the National Museum of Archaeology.

27/02/2026

The photograph shows a unique ceramic sherd made of yellow-buff fabric with scarlet painted surface decoration, discovered at Borġ in-Nadur Prehistoric Complex. Although the sherd was first excavated in the 1920s, its significance was not recognized until it was examined by J. D. Evans in the 1950s as part of his archaeological survey of Malta.

The fragment, clearly wheel-made and fired in a closed kiln, is thought to have formed part of a kylix, or drinking goblet. Its presence provides important evidence that Malta at the time was integrated into a wider Mediterranean trading network. Interestingly, however, X-ray fluorescence testing of the Borġ in-Nadur Mycenaean sherd indicates that it was made using a Maltese clay source, suggesting that Malta’s involvement with the Mycenaean culture was perhaps indirect in nature.

30/01/2026

Tarxien Decorated Screens

The image shows two highly decorated stone blocks from the Temple Period. Each block features four raised spirals within a narrow border, a raised disc at the centre. The spaces between the spirals are filled alternately with triangles and short curved motifs also in raised relief, while the recessed areas are carefully pitted for contrast and may once have been coloured with red ochre. Notably, the two designs are similar but not identical.

The quality of the relief carving is so exceptional that it is difficult to believe no metal tools were used. However, no metal objects were recovered from contexts earlier than the Tarxien Cemetery phase of the Early Bronze Age. These spiralled blocks, now displayed at the National Museum of Archaeology in Malta, once decorated the passage between the first and second pair of apses in the Tarxien Central. Possibly used as screens, they served no structural function and have no known parallels in any other prehistoric complex.

19/01/2026

13/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17mV4CBHXG/

Join us for the first lecture of 2026, where Dr David Cardona (Heritage Malta) will update us on the discoveries of the MCRP excavation at the Domvs Romana. The lecture, scheduled for the 21st of January, will take place at the Grand Hotel Excelsior at 18.00. As always, the lecture is open to general public as well as society members.

12/01/2026

Announcing second call for abstracts - deadline 30th January ! www.um.edu.mt/events/xippc2026/