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Speaker 1: Okay, get this. Imagine a pediatrician getting a call not

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about a medical emergency or something, but about a ten

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foot tall skeleton found on a construction site.

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Speaker 2: Wow wow, right, yeah, that's pretty crazy.

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Speaker 1: So we kick off our deep dive today into the

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mysteries of Malta.

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Speaker 3: Fascinating.

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Speaker 1: This perfectly illustrates the blend of history and archaeology and

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folklore that makes Malta so intrigued. Exactly. We're going deep

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into ancient temples, possible giant bones, and even a legendary

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giant has named Sonsuna.

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Speaker 3: Okay, you're ready to explore, I am. Let's do it

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all right.

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Speaker 1: So to set the stage, we need to remember that

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Malta's location smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean

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made it a prime target for pretty much every empire

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with a boat in a torch for conquest, right.

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Speaker 3: Exactly, And it's a very strategic location throughout history.

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Speaker 1: So give us a quick rundown of who had their

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hands on Malta over the centuries.

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Speaker 2: Yes, so you're talking about everybody from the Phoenicians to

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the Romans, the Arabs, to the Knights of Saint John,

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every you.

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Speaker 1: Know, that's a lot of empires.

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Speaker 2: Every wave of conquest has left its mark on the island.

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You know, layering Malta's history like some kind of ancient

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archaeological lasagnat.

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Speaker 1: Okay, I love that, you know, that's a great anautly.

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Speaker 2: It's a rich, very layered history. Yeah.

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Speaker 1: And speaking of layers, let's talk about those jaw dropping

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megalithic temples that dot the Maltese landscape. Oh yeah, we're

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talking structures like Contigia, with its twenty foot tall limestone blocks,

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each weighing more than a fully loaded semi truck.

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Speaker 2: I mean these temples they predate the Pyramids of Egypt, really,

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and yet they display a level of architectural sophistication that's

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simply mind boggling.

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Speaker 1: It's like finding a perfectly preserved iPhone in a Roman

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ruin exactly.

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Speaker 2: It makes you wonder, it really does. What kind of

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civilization could have achieved this level of engineering prowess thousands

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of years ago?

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Speaker 1: Yeah?

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Speaker 3: And why don't we know more about them?

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Speaker 1: Right? Like, how is that even possible?

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Speaker 3: Well, that's one of the great mysteries of Malta.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, these structures were built by people that we call

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the temple builders. It was a culture that flourished long

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before written history.

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Speaker 1: So we're left to piece together their story through the

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stones themselves.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, through the stones themselves, the artifacts found within them,

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and the tantalizing hints of their beliefs and practices.

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Speaker 1: Speaking of tantalizing hints, let's talk about Sutemi zamt oh Yes,

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a Maltese archaeologist who unearthed some truly remarkable finds in

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the early twentieth century. Yeah. His discovery of the Hypogeum

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the hypergem, an underground complex carved into the bedrock, was

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like stumbling upon a secret chapter in human history. It

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really was so tell us, what is the hypogem?

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Speaker 2: The hypogm is this labyrinth of chambers and passageways, some

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grand and spacious, others narrow and claustrophobic. It served as

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a burial ground for thousands of individuals. Wow, but there's

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evidence to suggest it was much more than just a tomb.

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Speaker 1: Okay, spill the tea. What makes the hypogem so special?

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Speaker 2: Besides the whole being buried underground for millennia thing well

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for starters, the architecture itself is as baffling as the

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above ground temples. Oh, there's this room called the oracle

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room that's designed to create a humming sound, a humming

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room that resonates throughout the complex.

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Speaker 1: That sounds both creepy and kind of awesome.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a little bit of both.

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Speaker 1: What was its purpose we don't know.

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Speaker 2: For sure, but some researchers speculate that it was used

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for ritualistic purposes. Okay, perhaps to induce altered states of

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consciousness or to communicate with the spirits of the departed.

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Speaker 1: That's getting into some seriously spooky territory a little bit.

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And what about those coffin shaped shells carved into the walls?

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Speaker 2: Oh?

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Speaker 1: Yeah, those those sounds straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.

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Speaker 2: They do?

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Speaker 1: What were those four?

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Speaker 2: Well? Their purpose is also a mystery, okay, but it's

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clear that the Hypogeum was a place of great ritualistic significance,

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a place where the temple builders confronted the mysteries of

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life and death.

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Speaker 1: Wow.

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Speaker 2: And speaking of mysteries, there's another intriguing aspect of the

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hypogem that we need to discuss.

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Speaker 1: Ooh, lay it on me.

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Speaker 2: The elongated skulls.

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Speaker 1: Okay, you had me at elongated skulls. Were these just

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a result of headbinding, you know, a practice found in

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some cultures or is there something more to it.

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Speaker 2: That's where things get really interesting. While some cultures do

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practice headbinding, right, the skulls found in the hypergem were

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naturally elongated. Really, they lacked the sagital suture, the seam

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that normally runs along the top of the skull.

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Speaker 1: So we're not talking about a fashion statement here, No,

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not at all. These skulls were actually shaped differently from birth.

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They were What could explain that?

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Speaker 2: That's the million dollar question. Yeah, some researchers believe it

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could be evidence of a distinct human subspecies what or

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even a separate species altogether.

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Speaker 1: Wait, are we talking about a lost branch of humanity

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like a real life Neanderthal situation.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, it's possible.

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Speaker 1: That's blowing my mind.

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Speaker 2: It's a controversial theory, yeah, but one that some researchers

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take very seriously. They point to other evidence like the

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temple builders advanced architectural skills and their potential understanding of

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sound manipulation as hints that these people might have been

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different from us in ways were only beginning to understand.

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Speaker 1: Okay, now I'm officially hooked, So you've got ancient temples,

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a subterranean labyrinth, and whispers of a lost human species.

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Is there anything else Malta is hiding up in sleeve?

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Speaker 2: Oh, there's plenty more where that came from. Okay, remember

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those giant bones discovered back in the sixteen hundreds that

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were thought to be evidence of giants.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, those were eventually identified as elephant bones. Right, a

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bit of an anti climax, But hey, giant elfin bones

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are still pretty oppressive, exactly.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a reminder that sometimes the most outlandish claims

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have more mundane explanations. But that doesn't mean we should

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dismiss all legends or unexplained phenomena out of hand.

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Speaker 1: You're right, there's a balance to be struck between skepticism

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and open mindedness. Absolutely, And speaking of balancing acts, let's

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talk about the temple of Hagar kim Oh interesting and

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its potential connection to a cataclysmic event known as the

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Younger Dryas.

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Speaker 2: Now, the Younger Dryas was a period of rapid climate

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change that occurred around twelve thousand years ago, causing massive floods, extinctions,

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and all sorts of global upheaval.

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Speaker 1: Okay, I'm seeing where you're going with this. What does

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a climate catastrophe have to do with a temple in Malta.

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Speaker 2: Well, some researchers have proposed that the Temple of Hagar

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Kim's solar alignment okay, would have been perfect if it

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had been constructed around twelve thousand years ago, right at

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the onset of the Younger Dryas.

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Speaker 1: Are you saying that this temple might be thousands of

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years older than previously thought. It's a possibility, and that

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its builders were somehow aware of this catastrophic event.

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Speaker 2: It's a controversial theory, but one that's supported by some

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intriguing evidence. The temple's orientation, its architectural features, and even

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the symbolism found within its walls all hint at a

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connection to the Younger Dryas and the profound impact it

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had on early civilizations.

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Speaker 1: This is incredible. So we've got potentially twelve thousand year

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old temples, whispers of a lost human species, and a

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connection to a global cataclysm. Yeah, it's like something out

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of a Dan Brown novel.

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Speaker 2: It certainly challenges our understanding of history and the capabilities

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of ancient cultures.

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Speaker 3: But that's what makes Malta so fascinating.

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Speaker 1: It really is.

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Speaker 2: It's a place where the past is still very much alive,

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whispering its secrets through the stones, the bones, and the

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echoes of forgotten rituals.

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Speaker 1: Okay, I am officially on the edge of my seat.

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But before we get too carried away with speculations, let's

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take a closer look at the evidence. What can we

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learn about the temple builders' lives, their skills, and their

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worldview from the artifacts and structures they left behind.

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Speaker 2: Well, the temple builders left behind a wealth of artifacts, Okay,

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each one a window into their world. I like that

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we have intricately carved stone altars, pottery adorned with spirals

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and geometric designs, and even tools fashion from obsidian obsidian

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volcanic glas. What that suggests trade networks extending far beyond.

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Speaker 1: MALTA hold on obsidian tools, that's impressive. It is Obsidian

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is notoriously difficult to work with. Oh yeah, it requires

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a high level of skill and precision, a lot of skill.

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This suggests that the temple builders weren't just simple farmers, right,

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but skilled crafts people with advanced knowledge of tool making

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and access to resources from distant lands.

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Speaker 3: Exactly.

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Speaker 1: Okay, now we're talking. So they were skilled builders traders

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and possibly even innovators. Yeah, this is shattering my preconceived

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notions about historic cultures.

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Speaker 3: I think that happens a lot when people look into this.

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Speaker 1: It does. But let's get back to those mind blowing temples. Yeah,

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what can they tell us about the temple builder's architectural

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prowess and their understanding of astronomy and mathematics.

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Speaker 2: The temples themselves are masterpieces of engineering.

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Speaker 1: Yeah.

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Speaker 2: They were constructed using a technique called corbelling, okay, where

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each layer of stone is stacked slightly inward, creating a

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dome like structure without using any mortar or supporting beams.

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Speaker 1: So, like, imagine building a stable structure like that today

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without any modern tools or technology.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, it's really it's hard to even fathom.

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Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, it suggests a deep understanding of geometry, weight distribution, absolutely,

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and structural integrity. That's simply mind boggling.

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Speaker 3: It really is.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, and when you consider the orientation of some of

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these temples, we see evidence of astronomical alignments, really suggesting

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that they were also keen observers of the heavens.

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Speaker 1: So they weren't just skilled builders and crafts people, they

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were also astronomers.

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Speaker 3: It seems so.

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Speaker 1: It's as if they were creating a microcosm, the cosmos

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within their structures, aligning themselves with the celestial rhythms of

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the universe.

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Speaker 2: It's a fascinating possibility, and one that speaks to the

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depth and complexity of their worldview.

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Speaker 3: Remember, we're talking about a culture that flourished thousands of years.

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Speaker 2: Ago, right long before the rise of civilizations like ancient

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Egypt or Mesopotamia, and yet their achievements rival and in

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some ways surpass, wow, anything we see in those later cultures.

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Speaker 1: This is my employing. It challenges our entire understanding of

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the trajectory of human civilization. It does it makes you

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wonder what other knowledge might they have possessed, what other

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secrets might be hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.

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Speaker 2: That's the beauty of archaeology and the study of the past.

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We're constantly unearthing new evidence, reinterpreting old findings, and pushing

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the boundaries of what we thought we knew about our

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ancestors and their capability. And with each new discovery, our

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understanding of the past and perhaps even our own place

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within the grand scheme of things, shifts and expands.

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Speaker 1: Okay, I'm officially hooked.

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Speaker 2: Good.

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Speaker 1: This deep dive has already opened my eyes to a

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whole new world of possibilities.

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Speaker 3: I'm glad to hear that.

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Speaker 1: But before we move on, let's delve into a particularly

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intriguing aspect of the temple Builder's culture. Their relationship with death.

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Speaker 3: Okay, it's a good one.

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Speaker 1: Their mortuary practices are indeed fascinating, oh yeah, and provide

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valuable insights into their beliefs and social structures. The Hypogeum,

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with its labyrinthine chambers and elaborate burial rituals, stands as

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a testament to their reverence for the dead and their

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belief in a realm beyond the physical world.

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Speaker 3: It really does.

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Speaker 1: Okay, I'm ready to descend into the underworld. Tell me

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more about what the Hypogeum reveals about their concept of

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death in the afterlife.

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Speaker 2: Well, imagine descending into the earth, entering a realm of

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darkness and silence, the air thick with the weight of millennia.

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Speaker 1: Ooh, spooky.

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Speaker 2: The Hypogeum is more than just a burial ground. It's

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a symbolic journey into the underworld, a place where the

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boundaries between the living and the dead seem to blur.

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Speaker 1: It's like a physical manifestation of their beliefs, a subterranean

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realm where they could connect with their ancestors and perhaps

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even see guidance from the spirits of the departed.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it's very possible.

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Speaker 1: Wow.

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Speaker 2: The chambers are adorned with intricate carvings, some depicting spirals

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and other geometric patterns that may have held symbolic meaning

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related to death and rebirth. Imagine flickering torches illuminating these carvings,

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their shadows dancing on the walls as priests and mourners

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performed ancient rituals.

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Speaker 1: Wow. That paints quite a picture.

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Speaker 3: It's really something to think about.

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Speaker 1: Spirals are often associated with the cycle of life, death,

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and regeneration. It suggests that they saw death not as

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an end, but as a transition to another state of being.

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Speaker 2: That's a common theme in many ancient cultures.

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Speaker 1: Yeah makes sense.

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Speaker 2: And the spiral, with its continuous movement inward and outward, Yeah,

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could have represented the soul's journey through the afterlife, eventually

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returning to the world of the living.

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Speaker 1: This is fascinating. It suggests a belief system that embraced

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the continuity of life and death right a cyclical view

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that saw the two realms as interconnected and interdependent.

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Speaker 2: And keep in mind, they lived in close proximity to

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the natural world, witnessing the cycles of birth, growth, decay,

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and renewal all around them. These cycles would have shaped

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their understanding of death right, seeing it as a natural

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part of the grand tapestry of existence.

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Speaker 1: That makes perfect sense. Yeah, but let's get into the

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nitty gritty of the hypogem. Okay, what can we learn

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from the burial practices and the artifacts found within his

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chambers about how they view the afterlife?

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Speaker 2: Well, the burial practices within the hypogem varied over time, okay,

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reflecting their evolving beliefs and social structures. In the earliest phases,

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we see evidence of communal burials, okay, where multiple individuals

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were interred together.

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Speaker 1: So it wasn't just a place for individual burials, but

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a space where entire families or even clans could be

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lived to rest together.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, seems that way.

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Speaker 1: That's a powerful statement about their social bonds and their

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sense of belonging.

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Speaker 2: Yeah.

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Speaker 3: It's like they were saying, even in death.

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Speaker 1: We are not alone exactly.

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Speaker 2: It speaks to a culture that valued collective identity and

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ancestral connections. Later on, we see a shift towards individual

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burialsky often accompanied by grave goods.

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Speaker 1: Ooh, grave goods. Those are always fascinating.

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Speaker 3: Yeah they are.

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Speaker 1: It's like peeking into a time capsule of their lives

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and beliefs. What can these objects tell us about their

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thoughts on the afterlife?

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Speaker 2: Well, the inclusion of grave goods suggests a belief that

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the dead would need these items.

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Speaker 3: In the next world.

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Speaker 2: Okay, perhaps to navigate the challenges of the afterlife, or

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to maintain their status and identity.

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Speaker 1: It's like they were packing a suitcase for a long journey,

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but instead of clothes and toiletries, they're sending their loved

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ones off with pottery, tools and maybe a lucky charmer too.

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Speaker 3: Exactly.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, it gives us a glimpse into their practical concerns. Yeah,

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and their belief that individual identity persisted beyond death precisely.

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Speaker 2: Wow, the grave goods weren't just random objects. They were

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carefully chosen items right that reflected the deceased status, their

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role in society, and even their personal preferences.

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Speaker 1: This is incredible. We're not just talking about dry bones

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and dusty artifacts. We're talking about people, individuals with lies, beliefs,

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and connections that transcended the boundaries of death. Yeah, the

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Hypergeen is not just a tomb. It's a portal to

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a lost world, right, a window into the hearts and

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minds of a vanished civilization.

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Speaker 2: And as we continue to explore and analyze these artifacts

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and structures, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity

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and richness of the tumble Builder's culture. Their legacy lives

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on not just in the stones they left behind, but

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in the enduring mysteries that can continue to challenge and

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inspire us.

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Speaker 1: This has been an incredible journey so far, and I

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feel like we've only just scratched the surface of these mysteries.

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Speaker 2: Oh, we have just barely scratched the surface.

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Speaker 1: What's next on our agenda?

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Speaker 2: Next we'll dive deeper into the hypogeum ok, exploring its

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hidden chambers, its strange acoustic properties, and those controversial theories

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about its true purpose. Right, stay with us, because this

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deep dive is about to get even more fascinating.

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Speaker 1: Can't wait