For decades, archaeologists believed that Malta’s human history began around 7,500 years ago with the arrival of Neolithic farmers who built the island’s famous megalithic temples. But a recent discovery in Latnija Cave, located near Mellieħa in northwestern Malta, has upended that timeline. New evidence reveals that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers reached the island approximately 8,500 years ago—more than 1,000 years earlier than previously thought. This discovery changes everything.
Unearthing the Past at Latnija Cave
Between 2019 and 2025, a team led by Professor Eleanor Scerri of the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology and Professor Nicholas Vella of the University of Malta conducted systematic excavations at Latnija Cave. Their findings, published in Nature, include stone tools, hearths, and food waste that indicate repeated human habitation. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal and animal remains suggests that humans occupied the site as far back as 8,500 years ago.
Stone Tools and Seafaring Skills
The stone tools discovered at Latnija Cave were primarily made from local limestone, fashioned by striking rocks with a hammerstone to remove sharp flakes. These tools resemble microliths and bladelets found in Sicily, suggesting a connection between the two regions. The presence of these tools indicates that the Mesolithic inhabitants had the skills necessary for hunting and processing food.
Perhaps most impressively, these early settlers managed to cross approximately 100 kilometers of open sea from Sicily to Malta, a journey that would have required advanced seafaring abilities. Researchers theorize that they used dugout canoes, traveling at speeds of 2.5–4 kilometers per hour, which would have necessitated navigating beyond the visible horizon and enduring several hours of darkness.
A Diverse Diet and Environmental Impact
The excavations at Latnija Cave revealed a varied diet among the Mesolithic inhabitants, including cooked fish, sea snails, sea urchins, seals, deer, tortoises, foxes, and birds. The presence of hearths and thick beds of ash containing charcoal, charred bones, and carbonized wild plants and seeds indicates sophisticated food processing methods. The use of local vegetation, such as lentisk, for fuel further demonstrates their adaptation to the environment.
The arrival of these hunter-gatherers may have also impacted the island’s ecosystem. They encountered animals like red deer, foxes, and tortoises, which were previously thought to have gone extinct before human contact. Their presence suggests that human activity may have contributed to the extinction of some endemic species.
Rewriting Mediterranean Prehistory
This discovery challenges the long-held belief that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers did not reach small and remote Mediterranean islands. The evidence from Latnija Cave conclusively disproves this theory, demonstrating that these early humans possessed the maritime capabilities to colonize such islands. As Professor Scerri noted, this finding “fundamentally rewrites Malta’s prehistory by introducing a previously unknown Mesolithic phase.”
Looking Ahead
The ongoing research at Latnija Cave continues to yield new insights into the lives of these early settlers. As excavations progress, researchers anticipate uncovering more evidence that will further illuminate the capabilities and impact of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in the Mediterranean. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Malta’s history but also prompts a reevaluation of human migration and maritime technology in prehistoric times.
