Archaeological culture · c. 3600–2500 BCE
Maltese temple culture
On the islands of Malta and Gozo, farmers built some of the world's oldest free-standing stone temples, starting with Ġgantija around 3600 BCE and ending with the great Tarxien complex. They also carved the underground Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum.
Archaeologists think the temples grew out of local ideas rather than outside influence. After about 2500 BCE the temple-building culture disappeared.
See Maltese temple culture on the map in 3600 BCE
- On the map
- 3600–2500 BCE
How we know
No writing existed; the temples are dated by pottery phases and radiocarbon.
Sites
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum c. 4000–2500 BCE
- Ġgantija temples c. 3600–2500 BCE