Mġarr phase

Following the Żebbuġ phase (4100-3800 BCE),^[1] the Mġarr phase (3800-3600 BCE)^[2] was a short transitional period in Malta's prehistory. It is characterized by pottery consisting of mainly curved lines. Examples have been extensively excavated at the Ta' Ħaġrat Temples. The Mġarr phase evolved into the Ġgantija phase (3600-3200 BCE).^[1]

Overview

Artifacts are typically coated in red ochre and it has been suggested that their use may have been funereal; Mġarr pottery is similar to the objects found in Ta' Trapna neolithic tombs.^[1] The discoveries attracted considerable attention in academic literature,^[1] including the internationally received study of Elizabeth de Manneville.^[3]

Citations

1. ^ ^{a b c d} http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VIW26McQf4sC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=zebbug+phase+malta&source=web&ots=5IQ18vSuLd&sig=qkL13z2Ppb4zfbItxZaJZ32k9Hc&hl=en&ei=r4qTSdn1NYOftwfEiP3fCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result "Punic Antiquities of Malta and Other Ancient Artefacts Held in Ecclesiastic ... by Claudia Sagona, Isabelle Vella Gregory, Anton Bugeja"
2. ^ http://www.heritagemalta.org/skorbatemples.html
3. ^ De Manneville 1935, pl. xxxix. 3. See Evans 1953, pp. 41-94 especially p. 48, n. 3.