Thousands upon G of years ago , humans skilfully crafted a giant subterraneous structure beneath a James Jerome Hill in Malta , closelipped to the Grand Harbour of Valletta . Though it later became a necropolis , its original function , sizing , and method acting of structure rest shrouded in enigma .
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a unique underground interment coordination compound on the island of Malta that insure 500 straight meter ( 5,381 straight feet ) . It became aUNESCO World Heritage Sitein 1980 , owe to its “ Outstanding Universal Value ” .
Like allgood discoveries , it was stumbled upon byaccident . In 1902 , a Oliver Stone mason was laying the initiation for a set of business firm , Heritage Maltanotes , and inadvertently smashed through the Hypogeum ’s cap .
The Sleeping Lady: A depiction of life-giving nature or the eternal sleep of death?Image credit: pio3/Shutterstock.com
regrettably , the expression work had already destroyed much of the upper level of the monument – but unbeknown to the modernistic world , more lay obscure beneath the surface .
Towards the end of 1903 , the internet site was transferred to public possession and dig work continue until 1911 . These dig eventually give away the internet site primitively had three levels : an upper ( largely destroyed ) level , a middle grade , and a lower level .
It ’s essentially a human being - made labyrinth of sleeping accommodation , corridors , and nooks chip at out of soft globigerina limestone . These features are n’t simply rough dugouts either ; much of the structure displays impressive craftsmanship and finely cut stonework . Numerous circular stone pit and open areas are scattered throughout the composite , thought to have been used for worship or ceremonial purposes .
Astudy in 2020argued that the site was advisedly designed to enhance specific acoustic property . The frequency spectrum appear to be fine - tuned across multiple chambers , with evenly spaced peak relative frequency resembling a musical whole - feeling scale . If on-key , that would make Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum one of the early known examples of a man - made structure that was made with medicine and acoustics in mind .
Among the subterranean labyrinth , a collection of ancient relics was rule by archeologists , including pottery , personal ornaments , small carven beast , and heavy figurines . One of the most stunning artifact unearthed here is a clay carving covered in traces of cerise ochre pigment lie with as“The Sleeping Lady”(pictured below ) . Some believe the digit might portray “ mother nature , ” although others have interpreted it as a symbolic representation of death .
Oh , and did we blank out to mention the structure also once held the haggard remains of 7,000 citizenry ? Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum was used as a cemetery throughout multiple point of Maltese Prehistory , spanning from around 4000 BCE to 2500 BCE . However , this may not have been its original aim – according to UNESCO , it perhaps first served as a sanctuary - like structure before being repurposed for the entombment of human remains .
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a truly one - of - a - kind place , although the Maltese Islands are no unknown to stunning bodily structure from a distant metre . Across Malta and the neighboring island of Gozo , there areseven megalithic temples .
The copiousness of prehistoric monuments here may be relate to the land ’s rich limestone , which offers the perfect medium for crafting megalithic structure . Furthermore , its strategical position in theMediterranean Sealikely toy a role – connect enough to exchange technology and stylus with neighboring culture , yet sufficiently isolated to nurture a distinguishable and unique beau monde .
