Photo Find: Malta's Big Top

Volume 62 Number 3, May/June 2009

(Photo: Marco Ansaloni)

Malta's great megalithic temple Mnajdra will soon be completely covered by immense teflon-coated tents in an effort to halt the site's steady deterioration. Made of soft limestone blocks and located on the island's coast, the temple is exposed to salt air and harsh weather. Scholars call the tents the best safeguard until better conservation methods are found. First excavated in 1839, Mnajdra dates from 3600 to 2500 B.C., making it one of the world's oldest buildings. The tents are only expected to last 30 years.

© 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America
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