Set in the heart of Mġarr, Malta, the archaeological site of Ta’ Ħaġrat forms part of the group of local megalithic temples which have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its location offers not only a magnificent view of the rural Maltese environment, but puts the visitor into the same landscape setting that surrounded the prehistoric temple builders.

Ta’ Ħaġrat is home to two well-preserved structures. Renowned for its monumental doorway and facade, this is the only temple site that is built entirely of local Upper Coralline Limestone. Other features include a bench running along the facade’s length, as well as a courtyard measuring approximately 2.5m by 4.5m, surrounded by a raised stone kerb. This space, accessible from the entrance corridor of the temple, provides entry to three chambers through megalithic doorways.

The site was excavated between 1923 and 1926 with some other minor interventions in 1953 and in the 1960s. The larger of the two buildings dates from the earliest phases of megalithic construction – the Ġgantija phase (3600 – 3200 BC).

The dating of this building is still uncertain although the finds indicate a Saflieni phase (3,300 – 3,000 BC) date. Ceramic material from both earlier and later periods were also recovered from this site, indicating that it was used both before and after the construction of the temples.

One of the oldest free-standing monuments of such scale and complexity in the world, Ta’ Ħaġrat invites the visitor to appreciate better the genius of local megalithic construction, in a time when workers were limited to stone, bone and wooden tools.

Other Heritage Malta sites in the vicinity: Skorba and Ta’ Bistra Catacombs.