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National Geographic : 1920 May
Contents
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE Photograph by Helene Philippe THE FORTIFICATIONS OF VALLETTA ARE PARTLY 1IEWN IN THE ROCK Enthroned above its harbors, the chief seaport of the Maltese group of islands is one of the most picturesque cities of the Mediterranean. sea. Many changes occurred, until Malta emerged as part of a mighty continent. Dimly is seen Africa joined to Spain, Tunis, Sicily, Malta, and Italy, their shores washed by fresh-water lakes in which disported elephant, hippopotamus, crocodile, and land tortoise, until the floods descended and the earth was moved, turning the lakes into salt seas and forming the island of Malta. PRIEISTORIC MEN OF MALTA LEFT THEIR MARK IN CART RUTS In the caves of Malta, notably that of Ghar Dalam, are to be found the rolled fossil teeth and bones of the great and pigmy elephant, two species of hippo, petrified remains of stag, bear, and wolf, all welded into a solid mass. As the vertical section of these de posits is examined, there appears toward the top the first signs of man-worked flints, sling-stones, neolithic pottery, and human bones. Thus is found the first trace of man in Malta. Whether "Drift Man" was ever an in habitant of Malta is a moot point for academic discussion. In a hilltop exca vation, the underground galleries of Hal Saflieni, the ceilings of some of the rooms are covered with red clay paintings of spiral design suggesting a connection with the period of the painted caves of the Pyrenees (see also page 471). It is 448
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