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More than 6,000 years ago on a small cluster of islands in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, a unique and advanced culture flourished for more than a thousand years. Early in their history, for some reason that is still unexplained, the people of that society began the extraordinary task of dragging huge stones to enclosed sacred spaces, creating some of mankind's earliest monumental architecture. Their work was carefully planned and expertly executed to create temples, which would last forever. Indeed, the megalithic temples of Malta are the oldest stone buildings still standing on the planet.

The first temple in Malta to be built was Ta' Hagrat Temple, which is found in Mgarr (in the North of Malta). It is around 7,000 years old and so is the oldest freestanding temple in the world. The temple which was built after Ta' Hagrat was Ggantija Temple, which is found in Xaghra, Gozo. The next one to be built was Hagar Qim Temple, found near the town Qrendi (near the South Eastern coast of Malta). Near the latter town, the next temples, the Mnajdra Temples, were built. The Hypogeum Temples were the next to be built, in Paola (in the East of Malta). The next temples to be built were the Tarxien Temples, which are found in the town of Tarxien (in the East of Malta). After that, the Borg in-Nadur Temple was built near the bay of Birzebbuga (in the South of Malta). These temples mentioned are just the main seven temples found in Malta since till now about 34 megalithic sites have been discovered in the Maltese Islands!

1.Ghar Dalam & Skorba - 2.The arrival of Pre-Historic people in Malta - 3.Neolithic life in Malta - 4.The temple construction 5. The Shape of the Temples - 6. The Location of the major Temples - 7.Ta' Hagrat Temple - 8.Ggantija Temple - 9.Hagar Qim Temple 10. Imnajdra Temple - 11. The Hypogeum - 12. Tarxien Temples - 13. Borg in-Nadur Temple - 14. Other minor Megalithic Temple remains 15. Frequently Asked Questions - 16.Worksheets - 17.The Young Historians - 18.Bibliography - 19.Links