ABSTRACT
Ghar Dalam Cave was one of the earliest sites used by Neolithic man, who crossed to the Maltese islands around 7000 years ago. Even more remarkable than the presence of prehistoric man, are thousands of fossil animal bones. The cave, 145 m long, is formed in coralline limestone, 9 m above the Weid Dalam valley. It was first excavated by Arturo Issel in 1865 and excavations continued until 1922. Six distinct layers were revealed. The second lowest, about 125000 years old, contained the remains of Hippopotamus pentlandi and Hippopotamus melitensis, as well as the dwarf elephant Elephas mnaidriensis and Elephas falconeri. The fourth lowest layer, around 18000 years old, contains Cervus elaphus with brown bear, red fox, and wolf. The top layer is the Cultural layer, with pottery, “sling stones”, and domestic animal remains. The fauna is Continental European and came to Malta via Sicily during a glacial phase. The dwarfism of some mammalian lineages started in Sicily and continued in Malta. Gigantism also appeared in some species, such as the dormouse Leithia melitensis and the giant lizard Lacerta siculimelitensis.
