local news

Bistra rots: as authorities look the other way

They are the most interesting catacombs complex outside the Rabat area – Mario Buhagiar

One week after MaltaToday brought to light the sorry state of the Tal-Bistra catacombs none of the authorities have reacted to the report, or more so taken action to preserve this unique archaeological gem.

The Planning Authority lists Tal-Bistra catacombs as a site of archaeological importance. However, the ‘importance’ is simply on paper.

The catacombs, found in the limits of Mosta – near Mount St Joseph - are partially situated in the back garden of a villa. In 1990, the Museums Department expropriated the land in question to supposedly protect the archaeological finds. Even though the expropriation order means that the department can take possession of the site, eleven years later the catacombs still lie on private land.

The catacombs suffered their first blow in 1982 when the government sanctioned the building of a road over the site. Later the panoramic area was opened to the development of four luxury villas belonging to some well-known entrepreneurs.

University professor Dr Mario Buhagiar told MaltaToday that the variety and extent of tombs to be found at Tal-Bistra make the site the most interesting complex outside the Rabat area.

Dr Buhagiar explained that the catacombs date back to the period known as the Paleo-Christian era ranging from the late fourth to the early sixth centuries.

However, he added that the complex also incorporates remains that go back to the Punic-Hellenistic era in the first century B.C.

Dr Buhagiar is the head of the Art Unit in the Faculty of Architecture and specialises in history of art and medieval and Paleo-Christian Archaeology.

Captain Charles Zammit – Sir Temi Zammit’s son – studied the Tal-Bistra complex for the first time in the 1930s. The most recent study was conducted by Dr Buhagiar himself, which is documented in his book about Roman remains and catacombs, published in 1986.
The Tal-Bistra catacombs were scheduled by the Planning Authority in 1998 and identified as a site of archaeological importance.

The site was given a Level A conservation classification, which is the highest classification for an archaeological site.

Such a level of protection means that no development is to be allowed, which would adversely affect the natural setting of the site. In addition, a minimum buffer zone of at least 100m must be created around the periphery of the site in which no development will be allowed.

The current state of the catacombs does not do justice to the archaeological importance of these early Christian finds, which may shed light on Malta’s Christian roots. Words may look nice on paper, but it is action that the site is crying out for.