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Skorba: Echoes of Malta's Neolithic Past

Explore Skorba, a UNESCO site in Mgarr, Malta, revealing the secrets of Neolithic life through its ancient temples and village remains.

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Skorba is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Mġarr, Malta, featuring the ruins of two megalithic temples dating back to 3600-2500 BC, along with remains of an earlier Neolithic village. Though less imposing than other temple sites, Skorba offers unique insights into the daily life and religious practices of Malta's prehistoric inhabitants.

A brief summary to Skorba

Local tips

  • Purchase tickets online in advance from Heritage Malta to guarantee entry, as only 15 visitors are allowed on-site at a time.
  • Combine your visit to Skorba with the nearby Ta' Ħaġrat temples, located approximately one kilometer away.
  • Wear comfortable shoes for walking on uneven ground.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Valletta, take bus number 44 towards Mġarr. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Alight in Mġarr and walk for approximately 15 minutes to reach the Skorba temples. A single bus ticket costs around €2.

  • Taxi

    From anywhere in Mġarr, a taxi ride to Skorba will be short and convenient. A 5km taxi ride in Mgarr costs about €13. Taxis are readily available, or can be booked through ride-hailing apps.

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Discover more about Skorba

Skorba, situated on the outskirts of Mġarr, is a significant, albeit understated, window into Malta's Neolithic past. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Skorba's importance lies in its contribution to understanding the domestic and religious lives of Malta's prehistoric people. The site consists of the remains of two temples, the oldest dating back to the Ġgantija phase (3600-3200 BC) and the other to the Tarxien phase (3150-2500 BC). Excavations revealed that the area was inhabited long before the temples were built, with the earliest remains including an 11-meter wall dating back to the Għar Dalam phase (5000-4300 BC). Within the same site, archaeologists also found remains of ancient dwellings thought to predate the temple period. These could have been the houses of the temple builders and their families. Unlike more elaborate temple complexes, Skorba's ruins are relatively sparse. However, the site's excavation in the 1960s, using modern archaeological techniques, provided invaluable information about Malta's Neolithic culture. Discoveries included prehistoric pottery, red ochre wall plaster (suggesting the temples were once brightly decorated), figurines, and stone tools. The discovery within these structures of a number of female figurines and goat skulls, led the excavator to suggest that these structures may have been used as some sort of shrine. Remains of wheat, lentil and barley seeds together with pottery, animal bone and stone tools were also found.

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