Tas-Silg, Marsaxlokk (Malta) II: Archaeological Excavations Conducted by the University of Malta, 1996-2005

Tas-Silg, on the south-east coast of the island of Malta, is a major

multi-period site, with archaeological remains spanning four thousand

years. A megalithic temple complex built in the early third millennium

BC gave way to a Phoenician and Punic sanctuary dedicated to the goddess

Astarte. The sacred place underwent major transformations in Roman

times, becoming an international religious complex dedicated to the

goddess Juno. Located on the maritime routes plied by mariners and

traders, its fame did not escape the attention of the first-century BC

orator Cicero. Excavated as part of a major archaeological project in

the 1960s, the site of Tas-Silg lay abandoned for several decades. In

1996, the University of Malta renewed excavations at the site for ten

seasons, uncovering Neolithic and Late Bronze Age occupation levels, and

substantial deposits associated with ritual offerings of Punic date.

This volume is the second monograph of the final publication of the

excavations. It provides an account of the pottery and of the hundreds

of inscribed pottery sherds that were recovered during the excavations.

It forms a companion volume to the first monograph, which reports on the

history of the site and other finds.