Following the Roman conquest at the end of the 3rd century BC, Melita and Gaulos (Malta & Gozo) began to mint their own bronze coin. Coining in each of the islands highly differed: Melita issued a number of coin types with a range of designs related to the religious sphere and inscriptions in Punic, Greek and Latin. Whereas the Gaulos production is limited to one issue with military designs and inscriptions in Greek. Thus, coining in the Roman period appears to sharply mark the territorial identity of the two islands, despite their close proximity. Field research of the Italian Mission at Tas-Silġ has brought to light the most sizeable group of coins from the Melita mint known so far in the archipelago.
The intense occupation of the Tas-Silġ sanctuary during the Early Medieval period (6th-9th centuries a.D.) provides an extensive record of transport amphorae which allows to figure out the economic role of the Maltese Islands in the Mediterranean trade network. Alike coin, amphora is a viable proxy for piecing together whole scenarios of Medieval trade. Studying the archaeology of Tas-Silġ after the 6th century a.D. has opened new insights into the insular history – a research perspective that still holds promising potential.
Speakers:
Giulia Recchia (Sapienza Università di Roma), Claudia Perassi (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano), Grazia Semeraro (Università del Salento), Francesca Bonzano (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano).
Nathaniel Cutajar (Heritage Malta).
Prof.ssa Giulia Recchia (Sapienza Università di Roma), Prof.ssa Grazia Semeraro (Università del Salento), Prof.ssa Francesca Bonzano (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano): Archaeological research at Tas-Silġ and the provenance contexts of coins.
Prof.ssa Claudia Perassi (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano): Melita e Gaulos: comparing two territorial identities trhough their coins.
Dott. Nathaniel Cutajar (Heritage Malta): Byzantine Tas-Silġ - the case for an Early Medieval emporion.
