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Din l-Art Helwa called on the Superintendency for Cultural Heritage to “make a clear public statement recognizing that paleontological remains and related geological formations will be protected in order to minimize the risk of irreparable damage or permanent loss of our cultural heritage.”
The NGO said in a statement on Saturday that it was closely following Times of Malta Carcharocles megalodon teeth, other fossil-bearing rocks and rock-hewn spaces were found at Triq tal-Viani/Triq Gorg Pisani, Victoria, where road widening works are underway.
DLH said the fossils, believed to be 16 million years old and originally embedded in Miocene geological layers, were found lying on the ground under the wheels of a bulldozer, with some of them damaged by ongoing development works.
“The works will be carried out by professional registered archaeologists under the direct supervision of the Cultural Heritage Superintendency,” the NGO noted.
The NGO said the discovery was made by Dr Dawn Arienne Saliba, who is doing postdoctoral work in archaeology.
It added: “Dr Saliba brought the discovery to the attention of relevant government entities and authorities and stressed the need to temporarily halt work until the area has been scientifically surveyed, adequately documented, and all fossils collected or preserved.”
However, DLH said it was “very concerned that Dr Saliba’s concerns, instead of being praised, were met with threats of legal action and intimidating attitudes from the Director of Cultural Heritage.”
DLH expressed concern that when the paleontological remains were discovered, the people operating the machinery did not immediately stop working.
“To make matters worse, the archaeological supervisors did not take control of the situation, stop the field work, and fail to carry out the mandatory recording, collection and labeling of the finds. Instead, these paleontological remains were scattered in public places, vulnerable to theft or further damage,” the DLH said.
The cultural relics protection department stressed that the statement that the cultural heritage management department “only supervises archaeological remains but not paleontological remains” is “shocking to say the least.”
The DLH noted that “under section 7(1) of the Cultural Heritage Act (CAP 445), cultural heritage means movable or immovable objects of artistic, architectural, historical, archaeological, ethnographic, paleontological and geological significance, including information or data relating to the cultural heritage of Malta or any other country.”
DLH recommends that the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage take the following immediate actions:
“Support and encourage community participation in the protection of cultural heritage
“Clear guidance has been issued on what the public should do in situations like the one Dr Saliba encountered.
“A dedicated emergency telephone number has been set up for the public to report
“Have an enforcement arm within its structure.”
Photo: DLH
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