description Xagħra Stone Circle Overview
The Xagħra Stone Circle is a Neolithic funerary complex located on the island of Gozo in Malta, dating back to roughly 3600 to 3200 BC. Unlike other rock-cut tombs in Europe, it is noted as a unique stone-enclosed hypogeum that served as a major underground cemetery. Archaeological excavations at the site have uncovered the remains of hundreds of individuals, along with pottery and ritual artifacts, providing significant insight into the burial practices of prehistoric Maltese societies.
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What is the Xagħra Stone Circle?
The Xagħra Stone Circle is a Neolithic funerary complex located on the island of Gozo in Malta. It served as a massive underground cemetery for the Temple Period culture.
What makes the Xagħra Stone Circle unique in Europe?
It is notable for being Europe's only prehistoric stone-enclosed hypogeum, meaning it is a subterranean structure bounded by a circle of standing stones. The natural caves were artificially expanded to create an extensive burial complex.
What was found inside the Xagħra Stone Circle?
Excavations in the 1990s uncovered the remains of hundreds of individuals, along with beautiful prehistoric figurines and pottery. The site contained intricate altars and massive trilithon doorways carved directly into the rock.
When was the Xagħra Stone Circle used?
The site was actively used as a burial ground during the Maltese Neolithic period, roughly between 4000 and 2500 BC. It was part of a wider network of Temple Period structures found across the Maltese archipelago.
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