If you want to study ancient or classical civilizations (including the Near East, Egypt, early civilizations of the Mediterranean, classical Greece and Rome, and the early civilizations of India, China, and southeast Asia), you should take part in interdisciplinary programs that include courses in art, architecture, classics, history, ancient and modern languages, and theology.

However, if you wish to study the historical periods (from the fall of Rome to the present), then you should combine history (including archival and oral history research) with courses in historical and vernacular architecture, material culture and folklore, and archaeology. During your studies at the undergraduate level there is usually little specialization.

A major in anthropology requires courses in all of the subdisciplines. If you are interested in ancient and classical civilizations, the particular undergraduate major is not important. You’ll need to have an masters archaeology degree (B.A./B.S.) to work as a field archaeologist in the U.S. and to perform basic laboratory studies. You can get it through participation in an archaeological field school or as a volunteer.

It’s very important to underline that the Ph.D. degree requires 2-3 years of courses beyond the M.A. This degree also requires the successful preparation and oral defense of a dissertation containing original research in your chosen specialization within the field of archaeology.

Some graduate programs offer streamlined tracks for students with a B.A. degree so that they work directly toward a Ph.D. while others require an M.A. degree first.
There are some programs that offer a non-thesis M.A. degree. If you are planning to work immediately on a Ph.D. degree, the preparation of a thesis is an important part of the educational process.

An M.A./M.S. would be enough to direct field crews and is sufficient for many government positions in archaeology. An M.A./M.S. with a thesis and a year of field and laboratory experience is the minimum for certification by the Society of Professional Archeologists.

                            DWARKA AND THE MAHABHARATA

Every Indian, either living in India or living outside India, knows about the two epics that dominates the Indian psyche and the psyche of the terra firma. These epics are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The Mahabharata has exercised a continuous and pervasive influence on the Indian mind for millennia. The Mahabharata, originally written by Sage Ved Vyas in Sanskrit, has been translated and adapted into numerous languages and has been set to a variety of interpretations. Dating back to “remote antiquity”, it is still a living force in the life of the Indian masses.   With more than 74,000 verses, long prose passages, and about 1.8 million words in total, the Mahabharata is one of the longest epic poems in the world. The Mahabharata has a total length of more than 90,000 verses.

Everything about the Mahabharata is huge, from its sprawling length, to the enormous breadth of its vision. The longest of all epics is like an encyclopedia, a world all on its own. At its core is the powerful and moving story of the Pandava and Kaurava cousins who ultimately fight the greatest war of all, Kurukshetra. But that is not all, the Mahabharata is full of mythic stories, vast time spans of history, detailed geography and a massive body of spiritual teachings.

The author of the massive epic is Rishi Vyas, who, according to the text itself, spent three years creating it, rising every morning, and working on it every day. His abode was Vyas Gufa, a cave high in the Himalayas, which is still visited today by travelers on their way to Mansarovar.

In Mahabharata’s Musal Parva, the Dwarka is mentioned as being gradually swallowed by the ocean. Krishna had forewarned the residents of Dwaraka to vacate the city before the sea submerged it. The Sabha Parva gives a detailed account of Krishna’s flight from Mathura with his followers to Dwaraka to escape continuous attacks of Jarasandh’s on Mathura and save the lives of its subjects. For this reason, Krishna is also known as RANCHHOR (one who runs away from the battle-field). Dr. SR Rao and his team in 1984-88 (Marine Archaeology Unit) undertook an extensive search of this city along the coast of Gujarat where the Dwarikadeesh temple stands now, and finally they succeeded in unearthing the ruins of this submerged city off the Gujarat coast.

The first archaeological excavations at Dwaraka were done by the Deccan College, Pune and the Department of Archaeology, Government of Gujarat, in 1963 under the direction of H.D. Sankalia. It revealed artifacts many centuries old.

Marine Archaeology Unit (MAU) jointly by the National Institute of Oceanography and the Archaeological Survey of India. Under the guidance of Dr. Rao, a great marine archaeologist, a team consisting of expert underwater explorers, trained diver-photographers and archaeologists was formed. The technique of geophysical survey was combined with the use of echo-sounders, mud-penetrators, sub-bottom profilers and underwater metal detectors. This team carried out 12 marine archaeological expeditions between 1983 to 1992 and articles and antiquities recovered were sent to Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using thermo-luminescence, carbon dating and other modern scientific techniques, the artifacts were found to belong to the period between 15th to 18th century B.C. In his great work, The Lost City of Dwaraka, Dr. Rao has given scientific details of these discoveries and artifacts.

Between 1983 to 1990, the well-fortified township of Dwaraka was discovered, extending more than half mile from the shore. The township was built in six sectors along the banks of a river. The foundation of boulders on which the city’s walls were erected proves that the land was reclaimed from the sea. The general layout of the city of Dwaraka described in ancient texts agrees with that of the submerged city discovered by the MAU.

The ASI conducted a second round of excavations in 1979 under S.R. Rao’s direction. He found a distinct pottery known as lustrous red ware, which could be more than 3,000 years old. Based on the results of these excavations, the search for the sunken city in the Arabian Sea began in 1981. Scientists and archaeologists have continually worked on the site for 20 years.

The UAW began excavations at Dwaraka again from January 2007. Dr. Tripathi said: “To study the antiquity of the site in a holistic manner, excavations are being conducted simultaneously both on land [close to the Dwarakadhish temple] and undersea so that finds from both the places can be co-related and analyzed scientifically.”

The objective of the excavation is to know the antiquity of the site, based on material evidence. In the offshore excavation, the ASI’s trained underwater archaeologists and the divers of the Navy searched the sunken structural remains. The finds were studied and  documented.   

On land, the excavation is being done in the forecourt of the Dwarakadhish temple. Students from Gwalior, Lucknow, Pune, Vadodara, Varanasi and Bikaner are helping ASI archaeologists. In the forecourt, old structures including a circular one have been found. A small cache of 30 copper coins was discovered.

“Within the past few months, the engineers began some dredging operations there and they pulled up human fossil bones, fossil wood, stone tools, pieces of pottery and many other things that indicated that it indeed was a human habitation site that they had. And they were able to do more intensive sonar work there and were able to identify more structures. They appeared to have been laid out on the bank of a river that had been flowing from the Indian subcontinent out into that area. ( That river was the legendary saraswati river ) According to the news releases, they have done a radiocarbon testing on a piece of wood from the underwater site that is now yielding an age of 9,500 years which would place it near the end of the last Ice Age. There were actually two radiocarbon dates: one about 7500 years old and another about 9500 years old. The 9500 year old one seems to be the strongest one. That’s the one they are going with. This was announced by Minister Joshi ( Murli Manohar Joshi was the Indian Minister for Ocean Technology then ). Mahabharata was then a reality and it was not a cock and bull story concocted by Ved Vyas.

Ved Vyas also described the city of Dwarka in great details. The poets described Dwarka as a city so golden that it cast its radiance on the ocean for miles around it. Dwar means door, and Dwarka is a city of many doors or a gateway. It was an island, connected to the mainland by many bridges, and legend says that Krishna asked Vishwakarman, the architect of the gods to build him a city more beautiful than any before it.

Krishna chose a remote location, far beyond the reach of Jarasandh. He picked distant Dwarka on the western coast of India, far from Mathura, and spent a year putting his plans into action. He built on the sunken remains of a previous kingdom, Kushasthali, which itself was built on older ruins, all underwater. Krishna reclaimed a hundred miles of land from the sea and called in Vishwakarman, the architect of the gods to give him a city that was the envy of the world.

The Mahabharat and the Bhagwat Puran and other texts, describe the wonders of Dwarka. The most expensive and luxurious materials were used. In those days of unbelievable riches, it was quite common to use precious stones, gold and silver as construction material. Royalty and rich nobles invariably used gold, those who could not afford it used silver or metal.

Dwarka was a city of rose and gold. The palaces and many of the mansions were built of gold, over which pink lotus domes towered, topped by soaring golden spires. The floors were made of emeralds. Precious stones studded the walls and crystal arches curved overhead, inlaid with gold. The houses were beautifully decorated and sculptures adorned the walls. Even the cowsheds were made of silver, brass and iron.

Seen in this beautiful picture is lord Krishna coming to the island city of dwarka

Dwarka was a very well planned city, following the highly developed science of town planning. The architect, Vishwakarman, first mapping out the highways, lanes, gates and parks. He sectioned off plots and divided the city into six zones, residential and commercial. He planned out the port and created the bridges and gateways and the fortifications. Everything was laid out in detail before the construction began.

Like many kingdoms of the time Dwarka had a passport system. Its citizens were issued with a clay seal which had to be presented when they entered or left the massive gates. The seal of Dwarka was a mythical three headed dog and seals matching the description have been found in the undersea ruins today.

In the Newspaper The Hindu dated 23 Feb 2007 an article was published which I reproduce here vervatim.” CHENNAI: Ancient structural remains of some significance have been discovered at Dwaraka, under water and on land, by the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Alok Tripathi, Superintending Archaeologist, UAW, said the ancient underwater structures found in the Arabian Sea were yet to be identified. “We have to find out what they are. They are fragments. I would not like to call them a wall or a temple. They are part of some structure,” said Dr. Tripathi, himself a trained diver.

Thirty copper coins were also found in the excavation area. The structures found on land belonged to the medieval period. “We have also found 30 copper coins. We are cleaning them. After we finish cleaning them, we can give their date,” he said.

Dwaraka is a coastal town in Jamnagar district of Gujarat. Traditionally, modern Dwaraka is identified with Dvaraka or Dvaravati, mentioned in the Mahabharata as Krishna’s city. Dwaraka was a port, and some scholars have identified it with the island of Barka mentioned in the Periplus of Erythrean Sea. Ancient Dwaraka sank in sea and hence is an important archaeological site.” My idea is not to go in the discussion of how the city went under the sea but the fact is that this city is now approximately under water of the Arabian sea some 135 feet below water. This city has been mentioned in the Mahabharata and that this city has been found, dated, and mapped. The probable date of this city is between 9500 to 7500 years before present which will put it as 7500 to 5500 years BC.

Mahabharata was not a fictional epic but a reality is also evident from the works of many scholars who have done extensive work in this area, and by getting all the facts together what comes out of the whole is the fact that the near about exact dates of the major happenings in the epic has also been identified. This at least proves that the Vedic civilization is a much older phenomenon than perceived by many western scholars till date.

 There is a striking inscription which has been found  in  the  Jain Temple  at  Aihole prepared by  one Chalukya King Pulakeshi.  It says, according  to  scholars,  that  the  temple   was     constructed   in 30+3000+700+5  = 3735 years, after the Bharat War and 50+6+500 =   556 years of Shaka era in Kali era. Today Shaka era is 1910.  Hence  1910- 556  =  1354  years  ago the temple was constructed.  Thus the year of inscribing this note is 634 AD.  At this time 3735  years  had  passed from the Bharat War. So the date of the War comes to 3101 BC.  This is also the date of Kali Yuga Commencement. Naturally, it is evident that relying on the beginning of Kaliyuga Era and holding that the War took place just before the commencement of Kaliyuga,

The verse inscribed is :

Trinshatsu Trisahasreshu Bhaaratdahavaditaha | Saptabda  Shatayukteshu

Gateshwabdeshu Panchasu | Panchashatasu Kalaukale Shatasu Panchashatsu

cha | Samatsu Samatitasu Shakaanamapi Bhoobhujaam ||

The verses has been interpreted by considering the  clauses  of  the verse.  It  says “3030 years from the Bharat War” in the first line, ( Trinshatsu Trisahasreshu Bhaaratdahavaaditaha) where the first  clause of  the  sentence  ends.  in the second line, the second clause starts and   runs   up to   the   middle   of   the   third   line   thus ( Saptabda…..Kalaukale) This means 700+5+50 = 755 years passed in the Kali Era. It is clear from the former portion of the verse that 3030 years passed from the Bharat War and 755 years  passed  from Kali  Era.   Kali  Era started from 3101 BC.  755 years have passed so 3101-755 = 2346 BC is the year when 3030 years  had  passed  from  the Bharat  War.   So 2346+3030 = 5376 BC appears to be the date of Bharat War.

The Greek Ambassador Magasthenis has recorded that 138 generations have  passed  between  Krishna  and Chandragupta Maurya. Many scholars have taken this evidence, but taking only 20 years per generation they fixed  the date of Krishna as 2760 years before Chandragupta. But this is wrong because the record is not of ordinary people to take 20 years per  generation. In the matter of general public, one says that when a son is born a new generation starts. But in the  case  of  kings,  the name  is  included in the list of Royal Dynasty only after his coronation to the throne. Hence, one cannot allot 20 years to one  king.  We have  to  find  out  the average per king  by  calculating on  various INDIAn Dynasties. I have considered 60 kings  from  various  dynasties and calculated the average of each king as 35 years. Here is a list of some of important kings with the no. of years ruling.

      Chandragupta Mourya      330-298 B.C.     32 years.

      Bindusar                         298-273 B.C.     25 years.

      Ashok                            273-232 B.C.     41 years.

      Pushyamitra Shunga       190-149 B.C.     41 years.

      Chandragupta Gupta       308-330 A.D.     22 years.

      Samudragupta                330-375 A.D.     45 years.

      Vikramaditya                  375-414 A.D.     39 years.

      Kumargupta                   414-455 A.D.     41 years.

      Harsha                          606-647 A.D.     41 years.

                                                ———

                                                327 years.

      The average is 327/9 = 36.3 years.

Multiplying 138 generations by 35 years we get 4830 years before Chandragupta  Mourya.  Adding  Chandrgupta’s  date 320 B.C. to 4830 we get 5150 B.C. as the date of Lord Krishna.

Megasthenis, according to Arian, has written that  between  Sandrocotus  to  Dianisaum  153 generations and 6042 years passed. From this data, we get the average of 39.5 years per king. From this we can calculate  5451  years  for  138  generations.  So Krishna must have been around 5771 B.C.

Pliny gives 154 generations and  6451  years  between  Bacchus  and Alexander.  This  Bacchus may be the famous Bakasura who was killed by Bhimasena. This period comes to about 6771 years B.C.

Thus Mahabharata period ranges from 5000 B.C. to 6000 B.C. and Dwarka fits into this scenario perfectly.

Mahabharata   mentions   the   ancient   tradition   as   ‘Shravanadini Nakshatrani’, i.e.,  Shravan Nakshatra was given the first place in the Nakshatra- cycle (Adi-71/34 and Ashvamedh  44/2)  Vishwamitra  started

counting  the Nakshatras from Shravan when he created ‘Prati Srushti’. He was angry with the old customs.  So he started  some  new  customs. Before  Vishvamitra’s  time Nakshatras were counted from the one which was occupied by the sun on the Vernal  Equinox.   Vishvamitra  changed this fashion and used diagonally opposite point i.e.  Autumnal Equinox to list the Nakshtras. He gave first place to Shravan which was at the Autumnal  Equinox  then.   The period of Shravan Nakshatra on autumnal equinox is from 6920 to 7880 years B.C.  This was Vishvamitra’s period at  the  end  of  Treta yuga.  Mahabharat War took place at the end of Dwapar yuga.   Subtracting  the  span  of Dwapar  Yuga  of  2400 years we get 7880 – 2400 = 5480 B.C. as the date of Mahabharat War.

Recently Dr. S.B. Rao, Emeritus Scientist of the National Institute of Oceanography,  Dona  Paula, Goa, 403004, has discovered under the sea, Dwaraka and dated it as between  5000  to  6000  BC.   This  news  has been  published by all  the  leading newspapers on 22nd October 1988.

 Many works of the Vedic and Puranic tradition contain a sufficient number of clues in the form of astronomical observations which can be used to determine the approximate date of Mahabharata and thus establish the historical authenticity of the events described in this great epic. Notable among these works are the Parashar Sanghita, the Bhagvat Puran, Shakalya Sanghita, and the Mahabharat itself. Aryabhatta, one of the greatest mathematicians and astronomers of India in the fifth century AD, examined the astronomical evidence described in the Mahabharata in his great work known as the “Aryabhattiya”. According to the positions of the planets recorded in the Mahabharata, its approximate date was calculated by Aryabhatta to be 3100 BC implying that the great war described in the Mahabharata was fought approximately 5000 years ago, as most Hindus have always believed.

A number of British scholars of the 19th century, especially Friedrich Max Muller, tried to interpret this astronomical evidence to prove that the observations recorded in Hindu scriptures are imaginary. As an amateur astronomer, I propose to examine the astronomical evidence presented in the Bhagvat Puran and Max Muller’s criticism of this evidence in light of the advances made in astronomy in the past fifty years. Max Muller, in the preface to his translation of the Rig Veda, examines the astronomical observations described in the Bhagvat Puran and concludes that these observations are “imaginary”, apparently because they did not agree with the prevalent views of the European, primarily British, Indologists of the nineteenth century about the time of the Mahabharata.

Carl Segan, a renowned astronomer at Cornell University, who hosted the public television series “Cosmos” in 1985, pointed out that Hindus were the only ones who came anywhere close to correctly estimating the real age of the universe. Unlike many cultural traditions which treat science and religion as antithetical to each other, the Hindu tradition encourages the study of physics and metaphysics both for a comparative understanding of the true nature of the cosmic mystery surrounding and pervading the universe.

Everything about the Mahabharat is huge, from its sprawling length, to the enormous breadth of its vision. The longest of all epics is like an encyclopaedia, a world all on its own. At its core is the powerful and moving story of the Pandava and Kaurava cousins who ultimately fight the greatest war of all, Kurukshetra. But that is not all, the Mahabharata is full of mythic stories, vast time spans of history, detailed geography and a massive body of spiritual teachings.

 In the end I would like to invite my readers to a 9.35 minutes video on www.disclose.tv which will precisely show case the antiquity of this great civilization. The link is given below. Copy and paste on the address bar of your browser and press enter.

http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/1134/Dvaraka_Giant_Underwater_City_found_in_India/

Bibliography:

http://www.tginvents.com/tushar/MahabharatDating2.htm

http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/ancient/mahabharat/mahab_sarasvat.html

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=1a6vMAGTUhI

.Hinduunity.org

http://www.hinduism.co.za/oldest.htm

Michael Cremo, Researcher of Ancient Archaeology

and Author, Forbidden Archaeology

http://www.epicindia.com/magazine/Culture/the-lost-city-of-dwarka

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/23/stories/2007022301242200.htm

http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/1134/Dvaraka_Giant_Underwater_City_found_in_India/

On a lonely hill just outside the town of Tarquinia in northern Lazio, a dedicated group of people keep watch over one of the most important Pre-Roman archaeological sites in Italy. Here, in a melancholy echo of a distant past, some 6000 graves bear evidence to the existence of a highly advanced civilization dating back hundreds of years before the founding of Rome.

Today there is little trace left of the people known as Etruscans who inhabited an area including parts of Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria from around 900 BC. Italy at the time was divided in regions whose loose borders were occupied and fiercely contested by a variety of ethnic groups. Wars were commonplace and often brutal. The nascent Roman military, which would later go on to enjoy unprecedented success and create the greatest Empire in history, dealt ruthlessly with opponents and things un-Roman. Often not content with killing adversaries, it deliberately set out to eradicate all traces of their culture and identity and it seems to have dealt particularly ferociously with the Etruscans.

Of the diverse groups who populated Italy in that period the Etruscans stand out. They were culturally distinct and far more advanced than any other. It is widely believed that the Etruscans were not indigenous but originated in Asia Minor in an area that is part of modern day Turkey.

From archaeological sites like Tarquinia and Cerveteri, and references by Greek and Roman writers, we know they were technically and culturally advanced but sadly there are no remaining written works, no history or literature, left by the Etruscans themselves to allow us a glimpse of their world from within. The scarcity of reference material has added to the air of mystery surrounding the Etruscans making these sites all the more precious.

Thanks to the Etruscan tradition of wall painting their tombs, the necropolises at Tarquinia and Cerveteri are home to some of the finest examples of Etruscan art in the world today. Perhaps it was for superstitious reasons that the Romans didn’t destroy the artwork of these graves. Whatever their motives they appear to have respected Etruscan burial rites and what insights we do have into Etruscan lifestyle we owe in large part to their cemeteries.

Of the 6000 tombs in Tarquinia, 200 have wall paintings that are considered of major interest. Although some have suffered the effects of aging down through the centuries it is still possible to view and marvel at the splendour of Etruscan art. Delicately crafted and rich in symbolism, these frescoes portray a range of everyday scenes providing a sense of what life was like in ancient Etruria. Typical themes include dancing accompanied by musicians playing instruments like the flute and lyre and sporting scenes depicting athletes, horsemen and wrestlers.

To distinguish the tombs archaeologists have given each one a name. In the Tomb of the Leopards we witness a magnificent banquet with reclining couples enjoying a great feast. One man, probably the deceased, is seen holding up an egg between thumb and forefinger. The egg is thought to represent rebirth or the afterlife.

In the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing which dates to the sixth century BC, beautifully coloured scenes depict a hunter with a slingshot stalking a flock of birds who give flight against a hazy sky while fishermen in a boat below cast their net into a blue-green sea as dolphins leap playfully from the waves. One man dives into the sea from a rock while another is climbing the rock after him. Diving into water is thought to be another symbol of rebirth.

The Necropolis at Cerveteri is astonishingly elaborate. Tombs consisting of chambers connected by corridors, like rooms in houses, are arranged along streets as in any urban development. In their day these rooms would have contained furniture and ornamental decorations, precious metals, utensils and in some cases even pets, anything that might be considered necessary or useful in the after life. It is an eerie experience walking the streets of this city of the dead and one which takes us to the very soul of Etruscan culture.

The sites at Tarquinia and Cerveteri were considered important enough to be assigned World Heritage status by UNESCO in 2004. In assigning this status the artworks in the necropolises of Tarquinia and Cerveteri were deemed ‘masterpieces of creative genius’.

To read more about Etruscan history and see some examples of Etruscan Art visit http://www.EtruscanVilla.com/history . Visit the area to explore the world of the mysterious Etrsucans further. Plenty of useful information including accommodation is available on http://www.EtruscanVilla.com .

This article appears on the authors website at www.EtruscanVilla.com/articles_and_further_reading

Archaeology: The Basics

Archaeology and the Old Testament

Malta is said to be one large heritage park, with over 7000 years of history. With over 30 museums on such a small island, clearly including all aspects of Malta’s heritage, it is no wonder that holiday tourists and heritage enthusiasts alike will be satisfied! The Citadella in Gozo, and Valletta, Malta’s capital city, each contain the largest number of museums on either island, all of which are perfectly situated within walking-distance from one another. However, instead of listing each museum in order of location, they have been listed here in order of theme, making it easier for you to spot those which interest you the most!

Malta Archaeology

The first settlers of the island travelled by boat to Malta from Sicily around 5000BC and are said to be responsible for the superb megalithic Temple culture of the island, known particularly for its temples and for its distinctive array of figurines. Since the temple sites are open-air, most of the original features were replaced by replicas in order to ensure preservation of the originals in safe, indoor locations. The National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta is in fact the primary location for the original features as well as the finds from all the prehistoric sites. The same may be said for the Museum of Archaeology in the Citadel, Gozo, which houses the findings from the Gozitan sites, with particular attention given to the recent finds from the Xagħra Circle prehistoric burial grounds.

The Phoenician and Punic period archaeology is also housed within the National Museum of Archaeology but the newly furbished floor is currently closed to the public and scheduled to open soon. As for the Roman Period, the Domus Romana in Rabat is a perfect portal through time, with remains of a townhouse that was active during the 1st-2nd Centuries AD, that included toiletry items, imperial statuary and spectacular mosaics. Within the heart of Rabat one can also find the St. Agatha Museum which is a small, crowded museum, with a collection of artifacts discovered by farmers through time, that were bought by a priest whose main interest was to protect the ancient material.

Architecture & Art in Malta

The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta displays an array of art from the early Renaissance to modern times, by a range of foreign as well as Maltese artists. Some of the most exciting pieces in the museum are surely those by Mattia Preti, Guido Reni and J. M .W. Turner. The Cathedral Museums, of Mdina and the Citadel, also display a range of artwork – mainly religious, relics, vestments, old manuscripts and more. St John’s Co-Cathedral and Museum offers a unique display of art, marble work, altar pieces and architecture dating to the time of the Knights. The highlight of this building, which attracts art-lovers from all over the world, is the ‘Beheading of St. John’ by Caravaggio.

Palazzo Falzon in Mdina, Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar, Casa Bernard in Rabat and Casa Rocca Piccola in Valletta are four spectacular palaces and noble houses that not only display art and antique furniture but also provide interesting information about the nobilities of Malta.

History of Malta

Being an island, the sea has always been an important factor in the history of Malta, and it is not surprising that there are two Maritime Museums to visit, one in Birgu and one in Nadur. These display an interesting story about the use of the sea from prehistoric to post-colonial times. The story of the traditional boat, the ‘Luzzu’, is also presented. The Palace Armoury in Valletta, Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu and Old Prison in the Citadel all display another crucial period on the island – that of the Knights of St. John. The Armoury holds one of the world’s greatest collection of arms, still in its original building; the Inquisitor’s Palace displays the splendid architecture, old cells and antique furniture of the 1500’s civil law courts; and the Old Prison displays the graffiti-covered cells used by the Knights ‘to cool down’ its rowdy members.

World War II left an incredible echo in the history of the islands. Again, two museums are dedicated to this difficult time – The National War Museum in Valletta and the Malta at War Museum in Vittoriosa, with an original underground air-raid shelter forming part of the latter. These display original uniforms, insignia, parts of spitfire and wings, relics, convoys and equipment.

Maltese Traditions and Folklore

The Folklore Museum in the Citadel and the Għarb Folklore Museum in Għarb are two of the most charming museums on the Maltese islands and display a mixture of several Maltese traditional items that depict rural ways of life. These include items relating to traditional hobbies, agricultural implements, trades and skills. Similarly, the Ta’ Kola Windmill at Xagħra which was built in 1725 and was converted to a museum, is almost a frozen moment in time and displays the rural life of the miller trade.

Other Maltese Attractions

Two other interesting museums are the Manoel Theatre Museum in Valletta, which includes old costumes and a history of the theatre in Malta, including a description of the rise and fall of the Valletta Opera House which was destroyed during WWII, and the Limestone Heritage which explains the creation of the islands and the use of its limestone throughout the ages. Other diversely themed museums include the two Toy Museums of Valletta and Xagħra, the Natural History Museum in Mdina, the Natural Science Museum in the Citadel, the Aviation Museum at Ta’ Qali, and the relatively new Classic Car Museum in Qawra, opened only a few years ago.

There is surely a museum to satisfy everyone’s interest!

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