Ggantija
The ruins at Ggantija are the second oldest religious structures in the world, second only to the ruins at Gobekli Tepe. These temples date back more than 5,500 years which makes them older than the pyramids of Egypt. They are found on the Mediterranean island of Gozo. The temples have become a part of Gozitan folklore which says that the temples were built by giantess.
At the site, there are actually two complete temples and one temple that was abandoned before it was finished. The southernmost temple is the best preserve and the oldest dating back to 3,600 BCE. The temple’s plan includes five huge apses that still have traces of the plaster that once covered them slinging between the rocks. The temple are arranged in a clover leaf shape. They consist of semi-circular apses connected by a passage down the middle. Today it is believed that the apses would have been covered by roofing.
The building of the temple predates the wheel and metal tools which makes the feat even more impressive. Small round stones were found at the site which have some archaeologists guessing that the small stones were used as ball bearings to transport the massive stones. Even though the site was discovered in the 17th century very little was done on the site until 1827 when it was cleared of debris. After the clearing of debris, the site fell into decay and was kept in private hands until 1933 when it was expropriated for public benefit, finally allowing the site to be fully excavated, preserved and studied.
There is still very little known about the site. Findings of animal bones in the apses suggest that it may have been used for animal sacrifice. A large stone at the entrance with a recess might have been used as a ritual ablution station for purification before anyone could enter the complex. The temple does face to the southeast and the equinox sunrise which adds to the belief it was a religious site.