Sir Temi Zammit and the Tarxien Neoloithic Temples
A farmer working in his field, just above where today there are the Neolithic Temples of Tarxien, reported to Sir Temistokle Zammit that while he was working with his plough, sometimes he hits large stones beneath the soil. Wenzu (Lawrence), because tha was his name, took Mr. Zammit right on the place, were he was working with his plough. While the building of the chapel in the cemetery was being done, large stones were found.
On the 20th July 1915, a long trench was dug and large stones were found 60 centemetres beneath the soil. It was decided to explore all the place. Eliptical large stone was found. Megalithic buildings was found and consisted of 9 large stones the same size which was half rounded. Another half rounded building was found in a weeks time.
Sir Temi Zammit knew that these were Neolithic Sanctuaries like those of Hagar Qim and Imnajdra, Ggantija in Gozo.
It was found that this building was founded in the Neolithic Era, and was used as a sanctuary or temple. Before the Bronze age, this temple was forgotten, because many rooms and other locations were filled with dust and other material. This dust and soil was about a metre high draw the attention of the bronze age people and started barrying the loved ones there and putting their funeral urns. The high walls which still exist till today, were used for ash deposits.There were hundreds of these urns and other remains that were buried or filled with materials like soil dust, stones etc. The temples were demolished because they were left abundend.
Many objects were found here and included, bronze objects, ceramics,burnt human remains. Metal objects, statuattes, ornaments, stones sculptures and others. Three temples were found and one can say that were excavated in every era.
Ninu Cremona also had his part in excavating these finds. If it was'nt because of him, the farmer Wenzu never said anything to Professor Sir Temi Zammit with his find.