A new exhibition at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta is taking visitors on a journey through more than 4,000 years of Malta’s history, bringing together fascinating discoveries from one of the island’s most significant archaeological sites.Titled Tas-Silġ: A Place of Encounters and Worship for Millennia, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the extraordinary history of Tas-Silġ, an archaeological site overlooking Marsaxlokk Bay that boasts the longest continuous period of use in Malta.For the first time, artefacts uncovered during various excavations at the site have been brought together under one roof, revealing how the location evolved through thousands of years of changing civilisations, religions and traditions.The exhibition, which runs until 31st May 2027, traces the site’s history from its beginnings as a Late Neolithic megalithic complex through the Bronze and Iron Ages, before becoming an important religious centre during the Phoenician-Punic and Roman periods.It was later transformed into a Byzantine church complex, complete with a baptismal font, before eventually becoming an agricultural estate.And some of the objects on display tell stories that stretch far beyond Malta’s shores.Among the most remarkable discoveries is an agate crescent bearing a cuneiform inscription from Nippur in ancient Mesopotamia, dating back to the 13th or early 12th century BC.Researchers believe the object may have been brought to the sanctuary centuries later by seafarers travelling across the eastern Mediterranean, highlighting Malta’s ancient connections with distant civilisations.Another fascinating exhibit is a uniquely designed cup from northeastern Italy, dating to the first half of the 1st century AD and associated with an entrepreneur named Sarius and one of his workers of eastern origins.The exhibition also explores the worship of Astarte, the goddess who played a central role in the sanctuary’s religious history.One particularly striking artefact is a life-sized ivory ear dating to the 6th century BC, which may once have formed part of a statue of the goddess.Visitors can also examine a Roman Late Republican coin featuring what could be a veiled representation of Astarte.The coin carries the Phoenician inscription ’NN, meaning “of Malta”, offering an intriguing glimpse into how religious imagery may have helped shape the island’s identity thousands of years ago.Beyond the ancient objects, the exhibition uses newly created 3D digital reconstructions to show how Tas-Silġ and its surrounding landscape may have looked during different historical periods.These reconstructions will also form part of a digital platform currently being developed to enhance the experience of visitors exploring the archaeological complex itself.The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between Heritage Malta, the University of Malta, the Italian Archaeological Mission in Malta and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.It also forms part of the 11th International Congress of Phoenician and Punic Studies being held in Valletta.Alongside celebrating the site’s remarkable history, the exhibition highlights the importance of protecting Tas-Silġ for future generations, including proposals for better conservation, unified management and reconnecting sections of the site currently divided by a modern road.Those interested in visiting can explore the exhibition at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta until 31st May 2027, with admission included in the regular museum ticket.The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm until 3rd January 2027, with subsequent opening hours to be announced by Heritage Malta. The exhibition space is fully accessible.A detailed accompanying catalogue is also available for purchase at the museum and through Heritage Malta’s online store.For anyone fascinated by Malta’s ancient past, the exhibition offers an opportunity to discover how one extraordinary site witnessed thousands of years of history and connected the island to civilisations across the Mediterranean.Share with a history nerd!•