Għar Tuta: Malta's Oldest Human Settlement

Għar Tuta, or Latnija Cave, is a collapsed sinkhole cave in Mellieħa that has recently gained international prominence as the site of Malta's oldest known human settlement. Excavations beginning in 2019 and continuing into 2025 have revealed groundbreaking evidence that Malta was inhabited by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers as early as 8,500 years ago, a thousand years earlier than previously believed.Prior to this discovery, it was thought that the first inhabitants of Malta were Neolithic farmers who arrived around 7,500 years ago. However, the findings at Għar Tuta, including radiocarbon dating of charcoal and animal remains, indicate a much earlier human presence. The cave's stratigraphic layers show repeated use over time, suggesting seasonal or intermittent habitation.The artifacts uncovered at Għar Tuta include ash layers, stone tools, and thousands of burned animal bones. These early inhabitants are believed to have subsisted on a diet of birds, fish, seals, tortoises, and sea urchins, similar to Mesolithic diets in Sicily. The discovery of fish remains also suggests that these hunter-gatherers possessed the maritime skills to build boats, possibly dugout canoes, and cross the 100 kilometers from Sicily to Malta. This sea voyage represents a remarkable navigational and psychological feat for early seafarers.Today, Għar Tuta is a protected Class A archaeological site, with authorities taking measures to ensure its preservation. While the site is currently fenced off to the public, its significance in rewriting Malta's prehistory is undeniable.