Early Neolithic Pottery Production in the Maltese Islands: Initiating a Għar Dalam and Skorba Pottery Fabric Classification

Richard-Trémeau, Emma; Brogan, Catriona; Betts, John Charles; Capelli, Claudio; Briguglio, Antonino; Vella, Maria; Douglas, Jerome; Anastasi, Maxine

doi:10.1515/opar-2025-0057

Figures & Tables

Map showing the location of the Maltese Islands, the five main lithostratigraphic units, and the archaeological sites. Basemaps are the intellectual property of Esri and are used herein under licence. Copyright © 2020 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved. Geological data obtained from the Malta Inspire Geoportal (continentalshelf.gov.mt, June 14, 2025).

GD facies forms and examples of surface treatments in this assemblage. (a) Evans form 3; (b) Evans form 4; (c) G1002; (d) G1030; (e) G1004. SK facies forms and examples of surface treatments in this assemblage. (f) Evans RSk 4 (similar to GSk 2); (g) Evans GSk 4, RSk 6 has a similar globular body but with a straight rim; (h) Sagona GSk 11; (i) Evans GSk 3 (similar to RSk 5); (j) Evans RSk 7; (k) S1021 burnished; (l) S3002 slipped; (m) S6001 coarse SK, no surface treatment. Drawings not to scale, after Evans (1971) and Sagona (2015).

Photographs of the fabrics of the GD (left) and SK (right) facies as per PLM groups. Scale applied to all figures (the same magnification was used).

Microphotographs, XPL, for the GD facies fabrics. (a)–(c) GD1; (d)–(g) GD2; (h)–(i) GD3. (a) Abundant microfossils (both benthic and planktonic foraminifera belonging to rotaliids and globigerinids, respectively) and scarce calcite (GD1.1); (b) small benthic foraminifera (nodosariid) and few angular spathic calcite (GD1.2); (c) globigerinid planktonic foraminifera (cf. Trilobatus); (d) abundant fragments of biocalcarenite with rotaliids and nummulitid foraminifera; (e) spathic calcite, glauconite and fragments of calcarenite; (f) clast with a section of the foraminifera Operculina and glauconite; (g) biocalcarenite fragment and deformed foraminifera Operculina and globigerinid; (h) and (i) abundant angular spathic calcite.

(a) and (b) (GD1.1): abundant microfossils (ornatorotaliids and planktonic foraminifera Trilobus spp.) and minor calcite fragments; (c) (GD1.2): microfossils (Lenticulina sp. and planktonic foraminifera) and large angular calcite fragments; (d) (GD2.1): biocalcarenite and calcite fragments; (e) (GD2.4) abundant broken and deformed operculinid fragments; (f) (GD3): abundant spathic calcite and ornatorotaliid.

Microphotographs, XPL, for the Skorba facies fabrics. (a)–(c): SK1; (d)–(f): SK2, (g)–(i): SK3. (a)–(f): partial dissociation of microfossils (corallinacean red algae, small benthic foraminifera, nodosariids and rhodoliths) and limestone fragments; (b), (c) and (e), (f): red slip visible. (b), (c), (e), (f) have a red slip visible; (a)–(c): fragments of biomicrite, fossils and microfossils with incipient dissociation; (d)–(f): oolitic limestone with incipient dissociation; (g)–(i): angular spathic calcite and microfossils (including planktonic foraminifera cf Trilobus), glauconite in (h).

(a) and (c) (SK1): fragments of biomicrite and some foraminifera (ornatorotaliids); (c) (SK2): possible oncoids (clumps of coralline red algae); (d)–(f) (SK3): moderate to abundant calcitic temper with ornatorotaliid foraminifera as well as cibicidoids and globigerinids.

Geological maps with limestone members around the sites, as well as place names cited in the text. Sources include geological data from the Continental Shelf Department (Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, Malta). Terra Rossa soils data are originally from Lang (1960) and were digitised by Alberti et al. (2018).

Resources found close to the sites

Site	Geological formation	BC resources	UCL members	Other resources
Skorba (Mġarr, Malta)	Mtarfa Member (UCL)	<1 km or Ġnejna and Għajn Tuffieħa	Tal-Pitkal (100 m), Ġebel Imbark (∼1 km, Great Fault below Dwerja fault lines)	Quaternary deposits (Terra Rossa soils)
Santa Verna (Xagħra, Gozo)	Tal-Pitkal Member (UCL)	Xagħra plateau surrounded by BC slopes (150 m)	Ġebel Imbark (<3 km, Għajnsielem)	GL (0.5 km), Xlendi Member (LCL, <1 km and in the valley between Xagħra and Rabat – Wied ta’Żieta)
Kordin III (Southeast)	LGL	San Leonardu	Ġebel Imbark (<3.5 km, San Leonardu)	LCL: Il-Mara Member (1 km), Attard and Xlendi Member (∼2.2 km, Kalkara); MGL (∼1 km)

XRD results for each sherd

Group	Sherd	Ca	Q	K	I	S	Cl	Ca-Mg	D	Ak	G	Gl	P	Z	M	H	L	At	W
GD1.1	G1002	xx	x		x	?						?
	G1004	xx	x	?	x	?	?					x
	G1011	xx	x		x	x					?	x
	G1028	x	x	X	x	x		x				x			?
	G1030	xx	x		?	?						?
	G1037	xxx	x		?	?						x
	G1043	xx	x		x	x
GD1.2	G1026	xx	x		x	x						?
	G1048	xx	x		x	x						?
	G1049	xxx	xx		?							x
GD2.1	G2004	xx	xx	X	x	x						x
GD2.1	G2006	xx	x		x	x						x
GD2.2	G2019	xx	xx		x	x						x
GD2.3	G2005	x	xx		x							x					x
GD2.4	G2015	x	x		x	x						x
GD2.5	G1005	x	x			x		?		?		x				?	?
GD3	G2008	xxx	x		x
GD3	G1006	x	xx		x	x				x		x	x				x		x
SK1	S1003	x	x		?	x				x		?					x
	S1010	x	x		?	x	?			xx		x					x
	S3005	xx	xx		?	?						x		x
	S1021	x	x		?	?				x					x		x
	S3010	xx	x	X	?	x						x
	S3002	xx	x		?	?						?
SK2	S3004	x	x	?	?	x	?			xx		x		x			?		x
SK2	S3008	x	x		?	x		?	x			x		x	?		x	x
SK3.1	S2007	xxx	x		?	?
	S6001	xxx	x									?
	S6003	xxx	x		?
SK3.2	S6012	xxx	x		?							?
SK3.3	S6006	xxx	xx		?	?						x
SK3.4	S6015	xx	xx		?	?						x

Summary of GD2 characteristics

Group	Sites	Samples	Forms and surfaces	PLM and SEM-EDX
GD2 (common)	SV	All	One rough surface, coarse body sherds (all)	Biocalcarenite temper with nummulitids, angular crystalline calcite; small iron inclusions
GD2.1	SV	G2004, G2006	Burnished inner surface, decorated with parallel lines on the outer surface	Very coarse biocalcarenite and calcite; rare glauconite pellets
GD2.2	SV	G2019	Chevron decoration	Medium biocalcarenite and calcite, quartz in the groundmass; rare glauconite pellets
GD2.3	SV	G2005	Burnished inner surface	Scarce biocalcarenite
GD2.4	SV	G2015	Burnished outer surface	Abundant biocalcarenite
GD2.5	SV	G1005	Shell impression with white infill	Biocalcarenite and biomicrite

Summary of SK2 characteristics

Group	Site	Samples	Forms and surfaces	PLM and SEM-EDX
SK2	SKB	S3008, S3004	Evans GSk 2 and body sherd; red-slipped	Biocalcarenite/oolithic limestone temper; rare small zircon inclusions (S3004)

Distribution of analysed sherds (32 samples) across sites

Archaeological sites	Excavations targeted for sampling	Number of sherds per facies
Santa Verna – SV	FRAGSUS^a 2015 (McLaughlin et al., 2020b)	11 GD, 2 SK
Skorba – SKB	FRAGSUS 2016 (Brogan et al., 2020a)	4 GD, 3 SK
Skorba – SKB	Trump’s excavation campaigns (1962–1963)	3 GD, 7 SK
Taċ-Ċawla – TC	FRAGSUS 2014 (Malone et al., 2020c)	1 SK
Kordin III – KD	FRAGSUS 2015 (McLaughlin et al., 2020a)	1 SK

Sherds selected for petrographic analysis

Sherd	Context	Shape	Surface (macroscopic)	PLM group
G1002	SKB2016-23	Body sherd, Evans form 3	Chevrons (incised)	GD1.1
G1004	SV2015-63	Body sherd	Netting pattern – incised lines organised in a grid, white infill	GD1.1
G1005	SV2015-119	Body sherd	Filled with a series of dots – cardial impression; white infill	GD2.5
G1006	SV2015-113	The base of the handle, Evans form 4	Chevrons-like design, three impressed bands of lines, including two bands of long lines and one band of dashes	GD3
G1011	SV2015-7	Lug, possibly Evans form 4	Barely visible incised chevrons or impressed lines, rough surface	GD1.1
G1026	SKCB4	Rim, Evans form 4	Burnished and a band of parallel lines	GD1.2
G1028	SKJD2	Body/shoulder, with start of a handle, Evans form 4	Band of curves – Impressed “C”; burnished	GD1.1
G1030	SV2015-63	Body sherd	Band of parallel lines above a long incised line, white infill	GD1.1
G1037	SKB2015-24	Body sherd	Burnished	GD1.1
G1043	SKMC4	Lug/knob and body sherds	Burnished	GD1.1
G1048	SKB2016-24	Body sherd	Burnished	GD1.2
G1049	SKB2016-24	Body sherd	Burnished	GD1.2
G2004	SV2015-89	Body sherd	Incisions (3 strokes)	GD2.1
G2005	SV2015-8	Body sherd	Broad incision (<3 mm) of chevrons; burnished	GD2.3
G2006	SV2015-89	Body sherd	Broad incision (<3 mm) of chevrons; burnished (slightly)	GD2.1
G2008	SV2015-63	Body sherd with strap handle	Burnished	GD3
G2015	SV2015-113	Body sherd	Burnished (slightly)	GD2.4
G2019	SV2015-90	Body sherd	Broad incision (<3 mm) or broad incision of chevrons	GD2.2
S1003	SKJD1	Rim, Evans RSk 4 or GSk 2	Burnished	SK1
S1010	SKB6	Handle, possible ladle GSk 3/RSk 5	Untreated	SK1
S1021	SV2015-63	Body sherd	Burnished	SK1
S2007	SKB2016-23	Rim, Sagona GSk 11 (Sagona, 2015)	Burnished	SK3.1
S3002	SKZA4	Rim, Evans RSk 6 or 7	Red slip	SK1
S3004	SKUC12	Body sherd	Red slip, burnished	SK2
S3005	SKKE2	Rim, inverted globular vessel (Malone et al., 2020b, Figure 10.9:12-18)	Red slip (PLM)	SK1
S3008	SKGA8	Evans Gsk 2/Rsk 4, possible pedestal base	Red slip	SK2
S3010	SKLD5	Rim, Evans Rsk 6 or 7	Red slip (PLM)	SK1
S6001	SKB2016-16	Body sherd	Untreated	SK3.1
S6003	SKB2016-11	Body and knob	Burnished (slightly on both surfaces)	SK3.1
S6006	TCC2014-193-194	Body sherd	Rough surfaces	SK3.3
S6012	SV2015-113	Body sherd	Rough surfaces	SK3.2
S6015	KRD2015-147	Body sherd	Rough surfaces	SK3.4

Summary of the technological characteristics and composition for each fabric group

Group	Sites	Sherds	Technological characteristics	Main inclusions (PLM/SEM-EDX)
GD1	SKB/SV	10	Firing T < 850°C; GD1.2 possibly tempered	Foraminifera and minor crystalline calcite
GD2	SV	6	Firing T < 850°C; tempered	Biocalcarenite fragments with abundant nummulitid foraminifera; angular and large crystalline calcite; small iron inclusions
GD3	SV	2	Firing T < 850°C; tempered	Abundant spathic calcite
SK1	SKB/SV	6	Firing T close to 850°C; tempered	Biomicrite temper with coralline algae
SK2	SKB	2	Firing T close to 850°C; tempered	Biocalcarenite/oolitic limestone
SK3	SKB/SV/KD/TC	6	Firing T < 850°C; tempered	Abundant spathic calcite

Summary of SK1 characteristics

Group	Sites	Samples	Forms and surfaces present	PLM and SEM-EDX
SK1	SKB, SV	S1003, S1021, S1010, S3002, S3005, S3010	Body sherds, rims, and handles. Evans RSk 4 or GSk 2, RSk 6 or 7, possible ladle GSk 3/RSk 5. Burnishing common. Red slip (see detail in text)	Biomicrite temper with coralline algae; moderate abundance of foraminifera; iron inclusions (S3002, S3005, S3010)

Summary of GD3 characteristics

Group	Site	Samples	Forms and surfaces	PLM and SEM-EDX
GD3	SV	G2008, G1006	Handle and base of handle, Evans form 4 or globular vessel, burnished (2008), chevrons (1006)	Spathic calcite temper

Summary of SK3 characteristics

Group	Sites	Samples	Forms and surfaces present	PLM and SEM-EDX
SK3 (common)	All	All	Varied, mostly body sherds	Abundant spathic calcite temper; rare zircon inclusions (SEM)
SK3.1	SKB	S2007, S6001, S6003	Burnished surfaces, one rim Sagona GSk 11, one body sherd with a knob	Moderate sparite temper (<1.5 mm); moderate abundance of foraminifera (S2007)
SK3.2	SV	S6012	Rough surfaces	Abundant and coarse (<2 mm) spathic calcite temper; moderate abundance of foraminifera
SK3.3	TC	S6006	Rough surfaces	Moderate temper, medium to coarse spathic calcite (<3 mm), abundant glauconite
SK3.4	KD	S6015	Rough surfaces	Moderate temper, medium to coarse spathic calcite (<3 mm)

Comparison of the old chronological sequence for Malta (Trump, 2015, p_ 55) and the new sequence from the FRAGSUS studies (McLaughlin et al_, 2020e)

	Phases	Old sequence	FRAGSUS sequence
EN	GD	5000–4300 BCE	5800–5400 BCE
	SK	Grey: 4500–4400 BCE	5400–4800 BCE
	SK	Red: 4400–4100 BCE	5400–4800 BCE
			HIATUS in the excavated sites (FRAGSUS)
Late Neolithic – “Temple Period”	Żebbuġ	4100–3700 BCE	3800–3600 BCE
Late Neolithic – “Temple Period”	Later phases	3800–2500 BCE	3600–2100 BCE

Summary of GD1 characteristics

Group	Sites	Sherds	Forms and surfaces	PLM and SEM-EDX
GD1 (common)	SKB, SV	All	Evans 3 or 4, and body sherds; burnished sherds (across sub-groups)	Moderate to high abundance of foraminifera and minor crystalline calcite
GD1.1	SKB, SV	G1002, G1004, G1011, G1028, G1030, G1037, G1043	Common decorated sherds, varied patterns, and 2 infilled	Rare calcite inclusions (natural); foraminifera; hydroxyapatite inclusions (SEM, except G1002 and G1011)
GD1.2	SKB	G1026, G1048, G1049	Band of parallel lines (G1026)	Moderately abundant calcite inclusions (temper); foraminifera

Early Neolithic Pottery Production in the Maltese Islands: Initiating a Għar Dalam and Skorba Pottery Fabric Classification

Figures & Tables

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Figure 5

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Resources found close to the sites

XRD results for each sherd

Summary of GD2 characteristics

Summary of SK2 characteristics

Distribution of analysed sherds (32 samples) across sites

Sherds selected for petrographic analysis

Summary of the technological characteristics and composition for each fabric group

Summary of SK1 characteristics

Summary of GD3 characteristics

Summary of SK3 characteristics

Comparison of the old chronological sequence for Malta (Trump, 2015, p_ 55) and the new sequence from the FRAGSUS studies (McLaughlin et al_, 2020e)

Summary of GD1 characteristics

Paradigm

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