Ta 'Ħaġrat
The temples of Ta 'Ħaġrat (pronounced Ta Hadschrat ) are located near Mġarr on the northern edge of the Bingemma Depression on Malta . They are among the Megalithic Temples of Malta , which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and have been included in the National Inventory of the Cultural Assets of the Maltese Islands . Ta 'Ħaġrat is one of the oldest cult places in Malta. Its use began during the Għar Dalam phase. The stone temples of Ta 'Ħaġrat have existed since the Mġarr or Ġgantija phase.
The catchment area of the temple excavated in 1925 extends over the west of the Bingemma Depression. The ancient cult site Skorba is only one kilometer away in the east. Both are located in a fertile terra rossa region on the southern slopes of Wardija Ridge. In the region there is coral limestone, which was used for the temples. Globigerine limestone is only about 1.5 km away. The two very closely adjacent temples of Ta 'Ħaġrat have a three-lobed (shamrock-like) basic composition and originally consisted of two closed side niches each. The main temple (A) has a very deep, the secondary temple (B) a medium-sized head niche.
The relationship between the temples has not been clearly established. The excavation findings are difficult to interpret with regard to the construction periods. An internal transition existed in the open area of the main temple (1). The outer wall of the secondary temple opens into the broken jacket area of the main temple.
Main temple
David Trump built the temple on 3600-3000 BC. Dated. The wide outer walling of the three rooms, the so-called mantle, made of monoliths and rubble stones, adapts to the lobed contour. The exedra is drawn out into an indefinable area on the left and has three original steps in front of the entrance. The most monumental blocks have been built along the facade and the central axis. The Front-Trilith has an edgewise capstone. The area of the side niches ends in a gate system that is blinded to the head niche, consisting of the portal and small niche extensions. This is unusual for three-lobed compositions. Both passages are laid out with floor slabs. A separate, almost rectangular area is located centrally between the side niches and the two gate structures. There is an unusually "round" head niche behind the screened gate system. The original design in the area of the transition to the secondary temple (1) has not been clarified. In the gusset between the main and secondary temple there are wall remains.
Secondary temple
David Trump built the temple on 3300-3000 BC. Dated. The secondary temple was built from significantly smaller stones than the main temple. He has no exedra and no forecourt. Its access was probably via the transverse wing of the main temple. The masonry is only preserved up to a height of about one meter. From the head niche there is a trilith access to an unusually large gusset chamber that may have been added later.
Finds
To the west of the temple complex remains of huts were found in which several hand mills made of coral-like limestone were found. Objects made of flint , jasper and obsidian were also found .
literature
- Joachim von Freeden: Malta and the architecture of its megalithic temples. Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 1993, ISBN 3-534-11012-9 .
See also
Web links
- Ta 'Ħaġrat Temples. (PDF) In: National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. Sovrintendenza tal-Patrimonju Kulturale, December 16, 2011, accessed on October 19, 2019 .
Coordinates: 35 ° 55 ′ 6.7 ″ N , 14 ° 22 ′ 6.9 ″ E