page_title: Megalithic Temples of Malta
section_title: Other sites
hierarchical_section_title: Megalithic Temples of Malta / Other sites
caption_attribution_description: English: Tal-Qadi Temple at Triq l-Imdawra in Naxxar, Malta
context_page_description: The Megalithic Temples of Malta are several prehistoric temples, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, built during three distinct periods approximately between 3600 BC and 2500 BC on the island country of Malta. They had been claimed as the oldest free-standing structures on Earth until the discovery of Göbekli Tepe. Archaeologists believe that these megalithic complexes are the result of local innovations in a process of cultural evolution. This led to the building of several temples of the Ġgantija phase, culminating in the large Tarxien temple complex, which remained in use until 2500 BC. After this date, the temple-building culture disappeared.
  The Ġgantija temples were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. In 1992, the UNESCO Committee further extended the existing listing to include five other megalithic temple sites. These are Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Ta' Ħaġrat Temples, Skorba Temples and Tarxien Temples. Nowadays, the sites are managed by Heritage Malta, while ownership of the surrounding lands varies from site to site. Apart from these, there are other megalithic temples in Malta which are not included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
context_section_description: Malta has various other megalithic temples and related sites apart from those included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. These include:
  Borġ l-Imramma
  Borġ in-Nadur
  Buġibba
  Debdieba
  Kordin
  Kordin I
  Kordin II
  Kordin III
  Ħal-Ġinwi Temples
  Qortin l-Imdawwar
  Santa Verna
  Ta' Marżiena
  Ta' Raddiena
  Tal-Qadi
  Tas-Silġ
  Xemxija
  Xemxija I
  Xemxija II
  Xrobb l-Għaġin
  Some of these sites were excavated but afterwards reburied, such as the Debdieba site. Others, such as Kordin I and II, were destroyed. The other temples usually consist of only a few scattered megaliths or remains, but some such as Buġibba Temple (which is now in the grounds of a hotel) are in better condition. A few sites, such as Ta' Marżiena, have never been excavated. Tas-Silġ contains few megalithic remains, but many more Bronze Age and later remains since the site was used until at least the ninth century AD.
  Apart from these, cart ruts were found at Misraħ Għar il-Kbir, but these may or may not date from the temple period. A submerged site known as Ġebel ġol-Baħar possibly exists off the coast of Malta, but it is not proven to be a megalithic temple.
caption: Tal-Qadi
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