1. Grupp Arkeologiku Malti, PO Box 31, Hamrun
HMR 01, Malta
INTRODUCTION
For more than twelve centuries a group of catacombs at Kalkara remained
virtually unknown. It was only in the early eighties that they were
rediscovered and documented for the first time. Only one of the tombs was
investigated, revealing an interesting graffito of a stylised human figure
which was interpreted as a representation of an orante. As the other four
tombs in the area were ’full of stones’, further examination could not
be undertaken. The nearby housing estate, already present at the time of
discovery, continued to expand in the ensuing years, covering the area
containing the hypogea. No action was taken to preserve the sites and it
is likely that during the construction work a number of tombs were destroyed.
Today, just twenty years after their discovery, there is no trace of
the Xaghra ta’ Santa Duminka Hypogea.