We have evidence of this because archaeologists have found human bones in this cave.
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According to the evidence found by archaeologists, the first people came to Malta at about 5,000 B.C. From where did they come from? Sicily is only 80km away from Malta and so it is the nearest place to Malta: but what evidence do we have? We know that they probably came from Sicily because at the site known as Skorba, which is found in Zebbiegh, near the village of Mgarr, archaeologists found pottery remains, which are extremely similar to other pottery remains found in Sicily ( "Lipari" and "Pantelleria"). So we have proof that the first Neolithic settlers in Malta were from Sicily. These Neolithic farmers and hunters must have come to Malta with the use primitive rafts made out of wood. But why would these pre-historic people would risk their lives by leaving on a dangerous voyage on a small raft and sail in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. There must have been certain situations in Sicily, which might have pushed the local people away from their land in order to search for a new land:- |
| There might have been a war between tribes. The tribe who lost the war might have been exiled. There might have been an epidemic illness. There might have been a shortage of food or water. There might have been rain flooding. There might have been a volcanic eruption (Mount Etna) There might have been a problem of overpopulation. A densely wooded island surrounded island surrounded by clear blue sea (Malta) might have interested them a lot. They might have had a great desire for sea-faring trade. There might have been extremely cold weather so they travelled south in search of warmer climates. | |
| At first, the Neolithic people started living in caves since these require no work,
as they are ready-made. Moreover they are found near the coast, which makes it ideal
for defense and fishing. One of these caves must have been the cave known as Ghar Dalam
(which in English means the cave of darkness since it is very long and deep and so very dark),
which is found near the bay of Birzebbuga, in the south of Malta. HOW DO WE KNOW? We have evidence of this because archaeologists have found human bones in this cave. | |
| Probably by time the caves became overpopulated and so the local people they started building huts made up from pieces of wood, twigs, branches, mud, stone, grass and skins and bones of animals. Where did they build the first huts? Apart from pottery remains (similar to the ones found in Sicily), at the site of Skorba, archaeologists also found the remains (evidence) of the earliest primitive huts in Malta. So this site must have been the first village in Malta. Nowadays, at the site of Skorba one can only see the remains of a megalithic temple. This is because after the huts were built, the Neolithic people started using the same the same place to build their temple. | |
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