Megalithic Temples of Malta

In 2003 an exchange of letters took place between the World Heritage Centre and the Maltese authorities on several issues related to the Megalithic Temples of Malta, in particular on the proposal for interim landfills for domestic waste near the temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra in Qrendi. The State Party also requested UNESCO’s involvement in a EU-funded project for a Heritage Park for these two temples. Furthermore, a letter of complaint was received on the illegal construction of houses close to the Ggatija temple, on Gozo Island, which resulted in the destruction of ancient remains. The Centre also received information about continued vandalism and illegal bird-catching structures, including trappers’ huts, in the area of the temples.

The State Party provided the Centre with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which includes a section dedicated to the impact of the landfills on the World Heritage property. In the conclusions of the EIA, the temples are being identified as the most vulnerable receptors of permanent impacts resulting from vibration and chemical emissions, and will also be affected by temporary impacts resulting from developments activities (noise, dust, odour, artificial light, traffic). The EIA foresees in appropriate thresholds on vibration and chemical emission to prevent damage to the cultural heritage.  The EIA was transmitted to ICOMOS and ICCROM for comments.

Furthermore, the World Heritage Centre has been informed that the Ministry for Youth and the Arts, in consultation with Heritage Malta, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, and the Malta Tourism Authority, has prepared a draft brief for an International Competition for a Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Heritage Park.

ICOMOS stated that whilst the report is a thorough piece of work, ICOMOS continues to have grave reservations about the impact on the two monuments. Although landfill operations are estimated to last only 2–3 years, they will require during that period the construction of new roads and other facilities will seriously degrade the setting of the monuments, both visually and audibly. Noxious emissions may also be anticipated, given the nature of the refuse likely to be dumped here, which would be unacceptable to the many tourists and other visitors to the sites. Heavy traffic is to be expected, and this could have a deleterious impact on the structural stability of the megalithic monuments, which have suffered in the past from operations at the now-disused quarries.

ICOMOS is conscious of the socio-economic pressures on the State Party that have occasioned this proposal. In its opinion, however, the cultural significance of the two megalithic monuments, as acknowledged by their inscription on the World Heritage List, and the adhesion of the Government of Malta to the World Heritage Convention, should be seen as reasons for abandoning the current project and finding an alternative site elsewhere.

The jury for the planned international competition for a heritage park in Malta mainly consists of architects. ICOMOS suggests that representatives from different disciplines, such as archaeology, conservation sciences, and structural engineering should be considered as members of the jury.