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National Geographic : 1920 May
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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE A STONE AGE TEMPLE SHOWING SACRIFICIAL TABLES IN THE FOREGROUND: MALTA Massive stones, some weighing several tc joined to the next with great skill. On top stones accurately mortised together (see text, similar compartments, the last being situ ated almost directly under the serpent pit. The innermost room of all has four openings about a foot square leading to four tiny caves, which might have been used as places for the deposit of treasure. This completes the itinerary of the temple, which is so complex that one can only speculate as to the use or signifi cance of its many extraordinary features. A MAUSOLEUM FOR 33,000 PERSONS In 1906 the work of exploration was begun. Most of the rooms were found to be half-filled with earth, human bones, and broken pottery. It has been esti mated that the ruins contained the bones of 33,000 persons, mostly adults. Prac tically all were found in the greatest dis order, and there had evidently been no regular burial of a complete body. With regard to the original use of the hypogeum, opinions vary. It may be that it was a temple carved underground for the use of spirits who had left this world, providing them with the same type of ons, are placed on end side by side, each being of some of these are horizontal layers of flat ,page 457). temple as that in which they had been accustomed to worship above ground; or it may have been a sacred college, wherein the priesthood were initiated into the mysterious beliefs of those days. CURIOUS FINDS AMONG TIHE BONES Whatever may have been the original use, there is no doubt that it was used in part as a burial place for the bones of the dead after a previous burial above ground. A large number of personal ornaments and votive offerings were found mixed with the bones, and these afford much insight into prehistoric beliefs and cus toms. Besides the large stone female figures already mentioned, several tiny alabaster replicas were found. A small carving was also found of a woman with a small head and large lower figure, lying on her side asleep on a four legged couch. Her head is placed on a shaped neck-rest. The figure is clad in quite fashionable flounces and plaitings and was evidently painted red. 466
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