Superintendence of Cultural Heritage

19/06/2026

🦷 British-period Dentures: A small bite of history

This contraption is actually a rare example of Early Modern dentures... and are about 180 years old!

Although the use of fake teeth had existed for centuries, the 19th century marked a turning point: improvements in materials and craftsmanship meant that these rare luxuries were becoming increasingly accessible! 🦷👄

These set of dentures have been dated to the British period in Malta; the plate is probably made of vulcanite, a type of hardened rubber, which started replacing earlier dentures by the 1850s.

Well-made dentures such as these allowed their wearers to project an image of health and geniality, especially in an era of poor dental hygiene. And at the end of the day, a winsome smile is all too important. 😄✨

Discovered by SCH archaeologists in 2019, these dentures were buried in one of the cemeteries on Manoel Island! 🦴⚒

Dusted off 🧹 Recorded 📏 Preserved📦

Today, they rest in the SCH’s laboratory for further study and analysis to better understand its story. No longer used as they were intended for; they nonetheless offer a glimpse into the vanity and personal care of individuals that lived centuries before us. 💇‍♂️⏳

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🦷 Dentatura ta’ Żmien l-Ingliżi: biċċa żgħira mill-istorja

Dan l-apparat fil-fatt hu eżempju rari tad-dentatura mill-perjodu Modern Bikri... u sar madwar 180 sena ilu!

Għalkemm is-snien foloz ilhom jeżistu sekli sħaħ, is-seklu 19 kien perjodu ta’ bidla importanti: it-titjib fil-materjali u x-xogħol tan-nies tas-sengħa wassal biex dawn l-oġġetti rari bdew isiru aktar aċċessibbli! 🦷👄

Dan is-sett ta’ dentaturi ġie ddatat għall-perjodu Brittaniku f’Malta: il-qafas x’aktarx huwa mgħamul mill-vulkanit, tip ta’ gomma, li sal-1850ijiet kien beda jieħu post id-denturi li kienu jintużaw qabel.

Dentaturi ta’ kwalità bħal dawn kienu jippermettu lil sidhom jippreżenta lilu nnifsu bħala xi ħadd dħuli u f’saħħtu, speċjalment f’epoka fejn l-iġjene dentali kienet fqira. U, fl-aħħar mill-aħħar, tbissima sabiħa dejjem hija importanti. 😄✨

Din id-dentatura nstabet mill-arkeologi tal-SCH fl-2019, midfuna f’wieħed miċ-ċimiterji fil-Gżira Manoel! 🦴⚒

Tnaddfet 🧹 Ġiet irrekordjata 📏 Ġiet ippreservata 📦

Illum tinsab fil-laboratorju tal-SCH għal aktar studju u analiżi biex nifhmu aħjar l-istorja tagħha. Għalkemm m’għadhiex tintuża għall-iskop oriġinali tagħha, din xorta tipprovdi tieqa żgħira biex nifhmu l-vanità u l-kura personali tan-nies li għexu sekli qabilna. 💇‍♂️⏳

17/06/2026

🎨Mon Nid - Mediterranean Colours in Wied iż-Żurrieq

Bold, colourful, and unmistakably a piece of art, Mon Nid has stood as an architectural icon in Triq il-Malja, Żurrieq, since the 1950s. Overlooking the island of Filfla, this striking summer home, built by Joseph Darmanin and designed by architect Ninu Said, was a pioneering structure in its time, even said to be the first house in the area with electricity!

While many summer houses were built in Wied iż-Żurrieq during the same period, Mon Nid stands apart with its cubist-inspired geometry, clean linear forms, and a distinctive façade that reinterprets the traditional rubble wall, making it one of the finest examples of Modernist architecture in Malta.

Its vibrant colours — red, green, sky blue, and white — reflect the influence of Le Corbusier’s Polychromie Architecturale, where colour becomes a tool for stirring emotion and memory. This Mediterranean palette, wrapped around angular balconies and clean-cut forms, helped turn Mon Nid into a local landmark.

More than just a summer home, Mon Nid is a cultural and historical treasure, a reflection of Malta’s architectural evolution and a testament to one family’s lasting vision.

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🎨Mon Nid - Ilwien Mediterranji f’Wied iż-Żurrieq

Differenti, ikkulurita u bla dubju artistika, Mon Nid ilha tiddomina bħala ikona arkitettonika fi Triq il-Malja, iż-Żurrieq, mis-snin ħamsin. Bil-veduta ta’ Filfla, din il-villeġġjatura, li nbniet minn Joseph Darmanin u ġiet iddisinjata minn Ninu Said, kienet struttura li ġiet qabel żmienha, u saħansitra jingħad li kienet l-ewwel dar fl-inħawi li kellha l-elettriku!

Filwaqt li fl-istess żmien inbnew ħafna villeġġjaturi f’Wied iż-Żurrieq, Mon Nid tispikka minħabba l-ġeometrija tagħha ispirata mill-Kubiżmu, il-forom lineari ċari, u faċċata distintiva li toffri interpretazzjoni ġdida tal-ħajt tas-sejjieħ tradizzjonali, li jagħmilha wieħed mill-ifjen eżempji tal-arkitettura Modernista f’Malta.

Il-kuluri vivaċi tagħha — aħmar, aħdar, ċelesti, u abjad — jirriflettu l-influwenza tal-Polychromie Architecturale ta’ Le Corbusier, fejn il-kulur isir għodda biex tqanqal l-emozzjoni u l-memorja. Din il-paletta Mediterranja, mal-gallariji angolari u l-forom puliti, bidlu lil Mon Nid f’ġawhra lokali.

Mon Nid mhijiex biss villeġġjatura iżda wirt kulturali u storiku ta’ min jgħożżu, riflessjoni tal-evoluzzjoni arkitettonika ta’ Malta u xhieda tal-viżjoni dejjiema ta’ familja.

📍 Triq il-Malja c/w Triq Wied Ħoxt & Triq is-Sajjieda, Wied iż-Żurrieq, Il-Qrendi
📰 G.N. 0572/25
🔍 National Inventory Number: 2933

15/06/2026

15/06/2026

Protecting Malta’s cultural heritage is a shared responsibility 🏛️✨

One of the roles of SCH is to establish Guardianship Deeds entrusting local councils, NGOs or an agency such as Heritage Malta to care for heritage sites of national importance. These agreements are much more than legal documents; they embody trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to safeguarding our cultural legacy.

Today, SCH had the pleasure of visiting several heritage sites under the guardianship of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna. During the visit, we witnessed the incredible dedication and hard work being carried out to preserve these sites. FWA also shared the challenges faced along the way, highlighting both the realities and the rewards of heritage protection.

Experiences like these continue to demonstrate the value of open dialogue, collaboration, and shared experiences in ensuring that Malta’s cultural heritage is safeguarded for future generations.

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Hija r-responsabbiltà ta’ kulħadd li nħarsu l-patrimonju kulturali ta’ Malta 🏛️✨

Wieħed mir-rwoli tal-SCH huwa li tistabbilixxi Atti ta’ Kurazija li jafdaw lil kunsilli lokali, NGOs jew aġenziji bħal Heritage Malta biex jieħdu ħsieb siti ta’ patrimonju ta’ importanza nazzjonali. Dawn il-ftehimiet huma ħafna iżjed minn dokumenti legali; jinkorporaw il-fiduċja, il-kollaborazzjoni u impenn komuni biex inħarsu l-wirt kulturali tagħna.

Illum, l-SCH kellha l-pjaċir li żżur diversi siti ta’ patrimonju taħt il-kurazija ta’ Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna. Matul iż-żjara, rajna d-dedikazzjoni inkredibbli u x-xogħol iebes li qed isir biex jiġu ppreservati dawn is-siti. Il-FWA qasmet magħna wkoll l-isfidi li tiffaċċja tul il-proċess u enfasizzat kemm ir-realtajiet kif ukoll is-sodisfazzjon li jinvolvi l-ħarsien tal-patrimonju.

Esperjenzi bħal dawn ikomplu juru l-valur li għandhom id-djalogu miftuħ, il-kollaborazzjoni u l-esperjenzi komuni biex naraw li nħarsu l-patrimonju kulturali ta’ Malta għall-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri.

13/06/2026

Ready for a weekend packed with fun activities? Join us for the European Archaeology Days!

Check out our full programme here: https://schmalta.mt/european-archaeology-days-2026-maltas-past-explored-above-and-below-ground/

Let’s dig into history together! 🏺💬

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Lest biex tqatta’ tmiem il-ġimgħa tagħmel attivitajiet divertenti? Ingħaqad magħna għall-Jiem Ewropej tal-Arkeoloġija!

Ara l-programm sħiħ tagħna hawn: https://schmalta.mt/jiem-ewropej-tal-arkeologija-2026/?lang=mt

Ejja nesploraw l-istorja flimkien! 🏺💬

13/06/2026

11/06/2026

Ready for a weekend packed with fun activities? Join us for the European Archaeology Days!

Check out our full programme here:
https://schmalta.mt/european-archaeology-days-2026-maltas-past-explored-above-and-below-ground/

Let’s dig into history together! 🏺💬

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Lest biex tqatta’ tmiem il-ġimgħa tagħmel attivitajiet divertenti? Ingħaqad magħna għall-Jiem Ewropej tal-Arkeoloġija!

Ara l-programm sħiħ tagħna hawn:
https://schmalta.mt/jiem-ewropej-tal-arkeologija-2026/?lang=mt

Ejja nesploraw l-istorja flimkien! 🏺💬

11/06/2026