Speaker 1: Okay, get this. Imagine a pediatrician getting a call not
about a medical emergency or something, but about a ten
foot tall skeleton found on a construction site.
Speaker 2: Wow wow, right, yeah, that's pretty crazy.
Speaker 1: So we kick off our deep dive today into the
mysteries of Malta.
Speaker 3: Fascinating.
Speaker 1: This perfectly illustrates the blend of history and archaeology and
folklore that makes Malta so intrigued. Exactly. We're going deep
into ancient temples, possible giant bones, and even a legendary
giant has named Sonsuna.
Speaker 3: Okay, you're ready to explore, I am. Let's do it
all right.
Speaker 1: So to set the stage, we need to remember that
Malta's location smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean
made it a prime target for pretty much every empire
with a boat in a torch for conquest, right.
Speaker 3: Exactly, And it's a very strategic location throughout history.
Speaker 1: So give us a quick rundown of who had their
hands on Malta over the centuries.
Speaker 2: Yes, so you're talking about everybody from the Phoenicians to
the Romans, the Arabs, to the Knights of Saint John,
every you.
Speaker 1: Know, that's a lot of empires.
Speaker 2: Every wave of conquest has left its mark on the island.
You know, layering Malta's history like some kind of ancient
archaeological lasagnat.
Speaker 1: Okay, I love that, you know, that's a great anautly.
Speaker 2: It's a rich, very layered history. Yeah.
Speaker 1: And speaking of layers, let's talk about those jaw dropping
megalithic temples that dot the Maltese landscape. Oh yeah, we're
talking structures like Contigia, with its twenty foot tall limestone blocks,
each weighing more than a fully loaded semi truck.
Speaker 2: I mean these temples they predate the Pyramids of Egypt, really,
and yet they display a level of architectural sophistication that's
simply mind boggling.
Speaker 1: It's like finding a perfectly preserved iPhone in a Roman
ruin exactly.
Speaker 2: It makes you wonder, it really does. What kind of
civilization could have achieved this level of engineering prowess thousands
of years ago?
Speaker 1: Yeah?
Speaker 3: And why don't we know more about them?
Speaker 1: Right? Like, how is that even possible?
Speaker 3: Well, that's one of the great mysteries of Malta.
Speaker 2: Yeah, these structures were built by people that we call
the temple builders. It was a culture that flourished long
before written history.
Speaker 1: So we're left to piece together their story through the
stones themselves.
Speaker 2: Yeah, through the stones themselves, the artifacts found within them,
and the tantalizing hints of their beliefs and practices.
Speaker 1: Speaking of tantalizing hints, let's talk about Sutemi zamt oh Yes,
a Maltese archaeologist who unearthed some truly remarkable finds in
the early twentieth century. Yeah. His discovery of the Hypogeum
the hypergem, an underground complex carved into the bedrock, was
like stumbling upon a secret chapter in human history. It
really was so tell us, what is the hypogem?
Speaker 2: The hypogm is this labyrinth of chambers and passageways, some
grand and spacious, others narrow and claustrophobic. It served as
a burial ground for thousands of individuals. Wow, but there's
evidence to suggest it was much more than just a tomb.
Speaker 1: Okay, spill the tea. What makes the hypogem so special?
Speaker 2: Besides the whole being buried underground for millennia thing well
for starters, the architecture itself is as baffling as the
above ground temples. Oh, there's this room called the oracle
room that's designed to create a humming sound, a humming
room that resonates throughout the complex.
Speaker 1: That sounds both creepy and kind of awesome.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a little bit of both.
Speaker 1: What was its purpose we don't know.
Speaker 2: For sure, but some researchers speculate that it was used
for ritualistic purposes. Okay, perhaps to induce altered states of
consciousness or to communicate with the spirits of the departed.
Speaker 1: That's getting into some seriously spooky territory a little bit.
And what about those coffin shaped shells carved into the walls?
Speaker 2: Oh?
Speaker 1: Yeah, those those sounds straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.
Speaker 2: They do?
Speaker 1: What were those four?
Speaker 2: Well? Their purpose is also a mystery, okay, but it's
clear that the Hypogeum was a place of great ritualistic significance,
a place where the temple builders confronted the mysteries of
life and death.
Speaker 1: Wow.
Speaker 2: And speaking of mysteries, there's another intriguing aspect of the
hypogem that we need to discuss.
Speaker 1: Ooh, lay it on me.
Speaker 2: The elongated skulls.
Speaker 1: Okay, you had me at elongated skulls. Were these just
a result of headbinding, you know, a practice found in
some cultures or is there something more to it.
Speaker 2: That's where things get really interesting. While some cultures do
practice headbinding, right, the skulls found in the hypergem were
naturally elongated. Really, they lacked the sagital suture, the seam
that normally runs along the top of the skull.
Speaker 1: So we're not talking about a fashion statement here, No,
not at all. These skulls were actually shaped differently from birth.
They were What could explain that?
Speaker 2: That's the million dollar question. Yeah, some researchers believe it
could be evidence of a distinct human subspecies what or
even a separate species altogether.
Speaker 1: Wait, are we talking about a lost branch of humanity
like a real life Neanderthal situation.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's possible.
Speaker 1: That's blowing my mind.
Speaker 2: It's a controversial theory, yeah, but one that some researchers
take very seriously. They point to other evidence like the
temple builders advanced architectural skills and their potential understanding of
sound manipulation as hints that these people might have been
different from us in ways were only beginning to understand.
Speaker 1: Okay, now I'm officially hooked, So you've got ancient temples,
a subterranean labyrinth, and whispers of a lost human species.
Is there anything else Malta is hiding up in sleeve?
Speaker 2: Oh, there's plenty more where that came from. Okay, remember
those giant bones discovered back in the sixteen hundreds that
were thought to be evidence of giants.
Speaker 1: Yeah, those were eventually identified as elephant bones. Right, a
bit of an anti climax, But hey, giant elfin bones
are still pretty oppressive, exactly.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a reminder that sometimes the most outlandish claims
have more mundane explanations. But that doesn't mean we should
dismiss all legends or unexplained phenomena out of hand.
Speaker 1: You're right, there's a balance to be struck between skepticism
and open mindedness. Absolutely, And speaking of balancing acts, let's
talk about the temple of Hagar kim Oh interesting and
its potential connection to a cataclysmic event known as the
Younger Dryas.
Speaker 2: Now, the Younger Dryas was a period of rapid climate
change that occurred around twelve thousand years ago, causing massive floods, extinctions,
and all sorts of global upheaval.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm seeing where you're going with this. What does
a climate catastrophe have to do with a temple in Malta.
Speaker 2: Well, some researchers have proposed that the Temple of Hagar
Kim's solar alignment okay, would have been perfect if it
had been constructed around twelve thousand years ago, right at
the onset of the Younger Dryas.
Speaker 1: Are you saying that this temple might be thousands of
years older than previously thought. It's a possibility, and that
its builders were somehow aware of this catastrophic event.
Speaker 2: It's a controversial theory, but one that's supported by some
intriguing evidence. The temple's orientation, its architectural features, and even
the symbolism found within its walls all hint at a
connection to the Younger Dryas and the profound impact it
had on early civilizations.
Speaker 1: This is incredible. So we've got potentially twelve thousand year
old temples, whispers of a lost human species, and a
connection to a global cataclysm. Yeah, it's like something out
of a Dan Brown novel.
Speaker 2: It certainly challenges our understanding of history and the capabilities
of ancient cultures.
Speaker 3: But that's what makes Malta so fascinating.
Speaker 1: It really is.
Speaker 2: It's a place where the past is still very much alive,
whispering its secrets through the stones, the bones, and the
echoes of forgotten rituals.
Speaker 1: Okay, I am officially on the edge of my seat.
But before we get too carried away with speculations, let's
take a closer look at the evidence. What can we
learn about the temple builders' lives, their skills, and their
worldview from the artifacts and structures they left behind.
Speaker 2: Well, the temple builders left behind a wealth of artifacts, Okay,
each one a window into their world. I like that
we have intricately carved stone altars, pottery adorned with spirals
and geometric designs, and even tools fashion from obsidian obsidian
volcanic glas. What that suggests trade networks extending far beyond.
Speaker 1: MALTA hold on obsidian tools, that's impressive. It is Obsidian
is notoriously difficult to work with. Oh yeah, it requires
a high level of skill and precision, a lot of skill.
This suggests that the temple builders weren't just simple farmers, right,
but skilled crafts people with advanced knowledge of tool making
and access to resources from distant lands.
Speaker 3: Exactly.
Speaker 1: Okay, now we're talking. So they were skilled builders traders
and possibly even innovators. Yeah, this is shattering my preconceived
notions about historic cultures.
Speaker 3: I think that happens a lot when people look into this.
Speaker 1: It does. But let's get back to those mind blowing temples. Yeah,
what can they tell us about the temple builder's architectural
prowess and their understanding of astronomy and mathematics.
Speaker 2: The temples themselves are masterpieces of engineering.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 2: They were constructed using a technique called corbelling, okay, where
each layer of stone is stacked slightly inward, creating a
dome like structure without using any mortar or supporting beams.
Speaker 1: So, like, imagine building a stable structure like that today
without any modern tools or technology.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's really it's hard to even fathom.
Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, it suggests a deep understanding of geometry, weight distribution, absolutely,
and structural integrity. That's simply mind boggling.
Speaker 3: It really is.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and when you consider the orientation of some of
these temples, we see evidence of astronomical alignments, really suggesting
that they were also keen observers of the heavens.
Speaker 1: So they weren't just skilled builders and crafts people, they
were also astronomers.
Speaker 3: It seems so.
Speaker 1: It's as if they were creating a microcosm, the cosmos
within their structures, aligning themselves with the celestial rhythms of
the universe.
Speaker 2: It's a fascinating possibility, and one that speaks to the
depth and complexity of their worldview.
Speaker 3: Remember, we're talking about a culture that flourished thousands of years.
Speaker 2: Ago, right long before the rise of civilizations like ancient
Egypt or Mesopotamia, and yet their achievements rival and in
some ways surpass, wow, anything we see in those later cultures.
Speaker 1: This is my employing. It challenges our entire understanding of
the trajectory of human civilization. It does it makes you
wonder what other knowledge might they have possessed, what other
secrets might be hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.
Speaker 2: That's the beauty of archaeology and the study of the past.
We're constantly unearthing new evidence, reinterpreting old findings, and pushing
the boundaries of what we thought we knew about our
ancestors and their capability. And with each new discovery, our
understanding of the past and perhaps even our own place
within the grand scheme of things, shifts and expands.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm officially hooked.
Speaker 2: Good.
Speaker 1: This deep dive has already opened my eyes to a
whole new world of possibilities.
Speaker 3: I'm glad to hear that.
Speaker 1: But before we move on, let's delve into a particularly
intriguing aspect of the temple Builder's culture. Their relationship with death.
Speaker 3: Okay, it's a good one.
Speaker 1: Their mortuary practices are indeed fascinating, oh yeah, and provide
valuable insights into their beliefs and social structures. The Hypogeum,
with its labyrinthine chambers and elaborate burial rituals, stands as
a testament to their reverence for the dead and their
belief in a realm beyond the physical world.
Speaker 3: It really does.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm ready to descend into the underworld. Tell me
more about what the Hypogeum reveals about their concept of
death in the afterlife.
Speaker 2: Well, imagine descending into the earth, entering a realm of
darkness and silence, the air thick with the weight of millennia.
Speaker 1: Ooh, spooky.
Speaker 2: The Hypogeum is more than just a burial ground. It's
a symbolic journey into the underworld, a place where the
boundaries between the living and the dead seem to blur.
Speaker 1: It's like a physical manifestation of their beliefs, a subterranean
realm where they could connect with their ancestors and perhaps
even see guidance from the spirits of the departed.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's very possible.
Speaker 1: Wow.
Speaker 2: The chambers are adorned with intricate carvings, some depicting spirals
and other geometric patterns that may have held symbolic meaning
related to death and rebirth. Imagine flickering torches illuminating these carvings,
their shadows dancing on the walls as priests and mourners
performed ancient rituals.
Speaker 1: Wow. That paints quite a picture.
Speaker 3: It's really something to think about.
Speaker 1: Spirals are often associated with the cycle of life, death,
and regeneration. It suggests that they saw death not as
an end, but as a transition to another state of being.
Speaker 2: That's a common theme in many ancient cultures.
Speaker 1: Yeah makes sense.
Speaker 2: And the spiral, with its continuous movement inward and outward, Yeah,
could have represented the soul's journey through the afterlife, eventually
returning to the world of the living.
Speaker 1: This is fascinating. It suggests a belief system that embraced
the continuity of life and death right a cyclical view
that saw the two realms as interconnected and interdependent.
Speaker 2: And keep in mind, they lived in close proximity to
the natural world, witnessing the cycles of birth, growth, decay,
and renewal all around them. These cycles would have shaped
their understanding of death right, seeing it as a natural
part of the grand tapestry of existence.
Speaker 1: That makes perfect sense. Yeah, but let's get into the
nitty gritty of the hypogem. Okay, what can we learn
from the burial practices and the artifacts found within his
chambers about how they view the afterlife?
Speaker 2: Well, the burial practices within the hypogem varied over time, okay,
reflecting their evolving beliefs and social structures. In the earliest phases,
we see evidence of communal burials, okay, where multiple individuals
were interred together.
Speaker 1: So it wasn't just a place for individual burials, but
a space where entire families or even clans could be
lived to rest together.
Speaker 3: Yeah, seems that way.
Speaker 1: That's a powerful statement about their social bonds and their
sense of belonging.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: It's like they were saying, even in death.
Speaker 1: We are not alone exactly.
Speaker 2: It speaks to a culture that valued collective identity and
ancestral connections. Later on, we see a shift towards individual
burialsky often accompanied by grave goods.
Speaker 1: Ooh, grave goods. Those are always fascinating.
Speaker 3: Yeah they are.
Speaker 1: It's like peeking into a time capsule of their lives
and beliefs. What can these objects tell us about their
thoughts on the afterlife?
Speaker 2: Well, the inclusion of grave goods suggests a belief that
the dead would need these items.
Speaker 3: In the next world.
Speaker 2: Okay, perhaps to navigate the challenges of the afterlife, or
to maintain their status and identity.
Speaker 1: It's like they were packing a suitcase for a long journey,
but instead of clothes and toiletries, they're sending their loved
ones off with pottery, tools and maybe a lucky charmer too.
Speaker 3: Exactly.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it gives us a glimpse into their practical concerns. Yeah,
and their belief that individual identity persisted beyond death precisely.
Speaker 2: Wow, the grave goods weren't just random objects. They were
carefully chosen items right that reflected the deceased status, their
role in society, and even their personal preferences.
Speaker 1: This is incredible. We're not just talking about dry bones
and dusty artifacts. We're talking about people, individuals with lies, beliefs,
and connections that transcended the boundaries of death. Yeah, the
Hypergeen is not just a tomb. It's a portal to
a lost world, right, a window into the hearts and
minds of a vanished civilization.
Speaker 2: And as we continue to explore and analyze these artifacts
and structures, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity
and richness of the tumble Builder's culture. Their legacy lives
on not just in the stones they left behind, but
in the enduring mysteries that can continue to challenge and
inspire us.
Speaker 1: This has been an incredible journey so far, and I
feel like we've only just scratched the surface of these mysteries.
Speaker 2: Oh, we have just barely scratched the surface.
Speaker 1: What's next on our agenda?
Speaker 2: Next we'll dive deeper into the hypogeum ok, exploring its
hidden chambers, its strange acoustic properties, and those controversial theories
about its true purpose. Right, stay with us, because this
deep dive is about to get even more fascinating.
Speaker 1: Can't wait