Għar Dalam

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Cave view

Juvenile elephant at the museum

Għar Dalam (pronounced ar dàlam in Maltese and meaning "Cave of Darkness") is an extraordinary prehistorical cul de sac containing the bone remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became extinct on Malta at the end of the Ice age. Dwarf elephant, hippopotamus, deer and bear bone deposits found there are of a different age; the hippopotamuses became extinct about 180,000 years ago, whilst the deer species became extinct much later, about 18,000 years ago. It is also here that the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta, some 7,400 years ago, was discovered.

The cave was first scientifically investigated in 1885, but was not opened until 1933, and also was used as an air-raid shelter during World War II. A museum was set up on site by the then curator of Natural History Dr J.G. Baldacchino. In 1980, the most important and irreplaceble relics -- such as four tusks of dwarf elephants and the skull of a Neolithic child -- were unfortunately stolen from the museum there.

The cave is some 144 metres deep, but only the first fifty metres are open to visitors. The museum, which still exhibits a remarkable wealth of finds from animal bones to human artifacts, is the entrance to the whole area.

[edit] Stratigraphy

The cave consists of six layers. ^[1]

Domestic animal layer (c. 74 cms). This layer is has mainly cultivated animals in it, like cow, horse and sheep/goat. Human remains, like pottery, flints, tools and ornaments or amulets are present here.
Calcareous sheet (c. 0.6 cms).
Deer Layer (c. 175 cms). The dwarf deer found in this layer is derived from the European Red Deer, Cervus elaphus. Even small numbers of carnivores are known from this layer. Namely brown bear, red fox and wolf. Also big swans, giant turtles and voles are found.
Pebble layer (c. 35 cms). This layer consists completely of small boulders and pebbles. They are indicators of a river that streamed through the cave. Since the stones are quite large is was a strong flowing river.
Hippopotamus layer (c. 120 cms). This layer consists of mainly Hippopotamus melitensis. Other species found are dwarf elephant and dormice, Leithia cartei.
Bone-Free clay layer (c. 125 cms). No bones found in this layer, only some impressions of plant material