http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ mirrored file For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== Ta' Hagrat Temples Ta’ Hagrat, lying in a picturesque and evocative setting on the outskirts of Mgarr, is an important temple site. Dating from around 3600 – 3300 BC, it is the earliest temple building in Malta. Ta’ Hagrat is smaller than many of the Islands’ temples, at 15m long internally, but it is better preserved. The temple, with its characteristic, imposing façade, is almost undoubtedly a partner to Skorba temples lying just a kilometre away. Ta’ Hagrat comprises a double temple consisting of two adjacent trefoils both of which are less formally planned than is usual in temple construction. The smaller temple abuts the major one on the north side. As with many temple finds on the Islands, Ta’ Hagrat’s discovery was haphazard. In 1923, an interesting mound was sighted in a field at Mgarr. Remains of a fine trilithon were still standing and a magnificent lintel lay on the temple floor. The owner of the field is reported to have used some of the stones to build a house. Two year’s later, in 1925, Sir Temi Zammit, Malta’s first Director of Museums, excavated the site. Although the dig yielded distinctive pottery, the site was not at that time deemed to be of much importance. The plentiful pottery of earlier date did though suggest that these two temples replaced an earlier village. Further excavations in 1953 were unable to shed much more light on the significance of the site. It was not until the early 1960s, when further work was carried out by renowned British archaeologist David.Trump, that the two Ta’ Hagrat temples were accurately dated: the larger was placed in the Ggantija phase (3600-3000 BC); the smaller identified as from the Saflieni phase (3300 - 3000 BC). The result of all these excavations is a host of artefacts including a unique find - a small limestone model of a temple. The temple is set in the middle of a large semicircular forecourt. The impressive façade with a monumental doorway was reconstructed in 1937. Two steps lead up to the main entrance and a corridor flanked by huge uprights of coralline limestone; three on each side, which once supported large hard-stone slabs. The corridor beyond the entrance is paved with large stone blocks placed with great accuracy. The three apses around it were partially walled off in a later construction phase. They are constructed with roughly-hewn stone walls, had a hard torba floor. The corbelled masonry forming the curved walls suggests that the temple was roofed. Corbelling was to narrow the roof diameter as local timber was not of sufficient length to span the gap. Ta’ Hagrat is open by appointment only. For further information, please see our section on Visiting .