Possible Roman olive press found in rubble wall
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.
report published
in The Times on September 24th, 2003
