Possible Roman olive press found in rubble wall

[Viggen]

What could be part of an olive press dating back to Roman times has been discovered embedded under a high rubble wall on the outskirts of Nadur. The press was discovered by Lino Bugeja, of Marsascala, while walking down the winding road to Ramla bay last week.

 

Mr Bugeja said he was convinced the large round stone was a press because it was practically identical in shape and size to the existing olive press at the Archaeology Museum in Gozo. The one in the museum was one of two found in Xewkija. Mr Bugeja said careful examination of the soil around showed that a number of potsherds, some of which had incisions, could be seen scattered in the area. This shows that the whole surrounding area could be archaeologically important, he said.

 

The whole Ramla Valley area is studded with sites of archaeological importance: Ggantija temples lie on the Xaghra side and further down there is the legendary Calypso's cave. In the centre of the valley there is the flat-topped hill known as in-Nuffara, which is known as a Bronze Age site, while a Roman villa, complete with baths, lies buried in the sands of the bay. Mr Bugeja said the trapetum he discovered does not feature on any of the archaeological maps in the Archaeology Museum in Gozo. He said he was willing to accompany Museums department officials to indicate the site where the press is but does not want to divulge the exact spot publicly, fearing the site would be tampered with or the item stolen.

 

from TheTimesofMalta