The Temples of Malta are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, on the island country of Malta. The first evidence of human habitation, on the island, is identified under the phase Għar Dalam, c. 5000 BCE. The Maltese Temple Period from c. 4100 BCE to c. 2500 BCE, produced the most notable monumental remains.
Hypogeum[]
The Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum is a subterranean funerary in Paola, Malta, that mainstream archaeology dates to the Saflieni phase (3300–3000 BCE). The ritual center was designed to be illuminated by the annual winter solstice sunrise.[1] In Graham Hancock's lecture Magicians of the Gods, Hancock questions the accuracy of mainstream's Maltese dating record, due to a high multi-cultural presence that threatens archaeological contamination. Hancock compares the circular Maltese designs to that of the Göbekli Tepe circular structure, and proposes that the Hypogeum is far older than mainstream admits.
- Archaeological contamination
An archaeological site can be contaminated from various disturbances by later occupants, from structural add-ons and restoration, to vandalism. Although most of the Hypogeum is underground, the entrance to it was built with megaliths, placed in what was presumably the natural entrance of the original cave. A. J. Agius mentions that the original entrance consisted of a large square opening in its centre (a porthole slab). This slab was later smashed and disposed of to make way for a new housing estate.[2][1]
- More ancient than admitted
In the Graham Hancock lectures, Hancock highlights the hybrid bison-bull scandal, uncovered by Anton Mifsud[3] of the University of Malta, where the wall painting of a half bison, half auroch (compare Higgs Bison) was scrubbed off the Hypogeum walls, among other art removals or disappearances.[4] The depiction of this extinct bovine, gave the suggestion that the Hypogeum was more ancient than the "official" Maltese dating record.[5][6]
Use of red-ochre paint, comparable to Upper Paleolithic cave art,[7] is found in 'spiral' and 'floral' patterns on the walls and ceilings of the Hypogeum. Variations on this theme can be seen in different chambers. In the main hall the decorations appear as spirals enclosed in pentagons, while the design extends to the roof becoming composed of spirals interwoven with a honeycomb pattern. The five small 'side chambers' were painted with broad bands of red and black pigment.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ancient Wisdom, The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni
- ↑ A.J. Agius. The Hal-Saflieni Hypogeum. 1967. Guide Book.
- ↑ Graham Hancock, Facebook post, October 24, 2016
- ↑ Jeni Caruana, Malta’s Megalithic Temples – an Artist’s View 4 Hypogeum, posted March 1, 2015
- ↑ Hancock, G. Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization (2003)
- ↑ Richard Dullum, Graham Hancock forum post, September 16, 2011
- ↑ phys.org, The Higgs Bison—mystery species hidden in cave art, University of Adelaide, October 18, 2016
Resources[]
- Wikipedia, Megalithic Temples of Malta
- Contamination and tampering