Ronald Poell
@holisticchrono.bsky.social
Independent researcher. Creating a holistic view of the #Neolithic Temple Period in Malta. And IT nerd developing an #AI capable of telling a multimedia story about it.
Comparison November 2024 - November 2025 of a long term #ExperimentalArchaeology project 😂:
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.
November 22, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Comparison November 2024 - November 2025 of a long term #ExperimentalArchaeology project 😂:
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.
The stone with the pitted decoration on the right resembles the numerous ones we have in Malta from the Temple Period (3400-2400 BCE). The image shows the summer solstice upright at Mnajdra South.
📷 mine 2021-03-26
📷 mine 2021-03-26
November 22, 2025 at 4:04 AM
The stone with the pitted decoration on the right resembles the numerous ones we have in Malta from the Temple Period (3400-2400 BCE). The image shows the summer solstice upright at Mnajdra South.
📷 mine 2021-03-26
📷 mine 2021-03-26
Tonight: Birgu by Candellight. The whole town will be only illuminated by around 20.000 candles.
Published a short note on a granite column I found 9 years ago at the same event in a recess on the upper floor of the Auberge de France in Birgu.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Published a short note on a granite column I found 9 years ago at the same event in a recess on the upper floor of the Auberge de France in Birgu.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
October 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Tonight: Birgu by Candellight. The whole town will be only illuminated by around 20.000 candles.
Published a short note on a granite column I found 9 years ago at the same event in a recess on the upper floor of the Auberge de France in Birgu.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Published a short note on a granite column I found 9 years ago at the same event in a recess on the upper floor of the Auberge de France in Birgu.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Finished "Fall of Civilizations" by @paulmmcooper.bsky.social
Excellent, H/T Paul.
Recommended read. As is Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything".
Both showing the stupidity of mankind through the actions of a few individuals. Greed for money, power and prestige being the worse.
Excellent, H/T Paul.
Recommended read. As is Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything".
Both showing the stupidity of mankind through the actions of a few individuals. Greed for money, power and prestige being the worse.
June 8, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Finished "Fall of Civilizations" by @paulmmcooper.bsky.social
Excellent, H/T Paul.
Recommended read. As is Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything".
Both showing the stupidity of mankind through the actions of a few individuals. Greed for money, power and prestige being the worse.
Excellent, H/T Paul.
Recommended read. As is Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything".
Both showing the stupidity of mankind through the actions of a few individuals. Greed for money, power and prestige being the worse.
"Navigating by the stars" for the Temple Period's trips to the South is a no go imo and illustrates a lack of interdisciplinary knowledge.
I asked the authors to react on this about 6 weeks ago without any reply.
I asked the authors to react on this about 6 weeks ago without any reply.
May 30, 2025 at 4:14 AM
"Navigating by the stars" for the Temple Period's trips to the South is a no go imo and illustrates a lack of interdisciplinary knowledge.
I asked the authors to react on this about 6 weeks ago without any reply.
I asked the authors to react on this about 6 weeks ago without any reply.
Throwback. 1969-1976. (from 13 to 20 yo). First digs. Netherlands. Roman settlement (Eindhoven/Woensel) with resin soil profiles. Also an emergency dig of a medieval Castle (Blaarthem).
Hairstyle was a bit different then 😂.
Hairstyle was a bit different then 😂.
May 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Throwback. 1969-1976. (from 13 to 20 yo). First digs. Netherlands. Roman settlement (Eindhoven/Woensel) with resin soil profiles. Also an emergency dig of a medieval Castle (Blaarthem).
Hairstyle was a bit different then 😂.
Hairstyle was a bit different then 😂.
Eager to start reading the book I received today: Fall of civilizations by @paulmmcooper.bsky.social
Although the retail price of the book is OK it ended up costing almost 2.5 times as much (shipment and customs). I hope it is worth it 😁.
Although the retail price of the book is OK it ended up costing almost 2.5 times as much (shipment and customs). I hope it is worth it 😁.
May 7, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Eager to start reading the book I received today: Fall of civilizations by @paulmmcooper.bsky.social
Although the retail price of the book is OK it ended up costing almost 2.5 times as much (shipment and customs). I hope it is worth it 😁.
Although the retail price of the book is OK it ended up costing almost 2.5 times as much (shipment and customs). I hope it is worth it 😁.
Yesterday another #fieldwork day at Il-Misqa (Qrendi, Malta). Cloudy weather so nice for 3D outdoor photography. Raw #photogrammetry models of 3 of the 8 water tanks. #Neolithic ? #TemplePeriod ? #Malta
April 27, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Yesterday another #fieldwork day at Il-Misqa (Qrendi, Malta). Cloudy weather so nice for 3D outdoor photography. Raw #photogrammetry models of 3 of the 8 water tanks. #Neolithic ? #TemplePeriod ? #Malta
Back at Il-Misqa after 6 years of other research. Possibly #Neolithic watertanks. 7 or 8 of them.
April 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Back at Il-Misqa after 6 years of other research. Possibly #Neolithic watertanks. 7 or 8 of them.
The third version of the Bibliography of the Temple builders in Malta are now available. 1480 entries in 10 categories.
Two variants:
BibTeX format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....) and APA format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....)
#Neolithic #TemplePeriod #Malta #Bibliography
Two variants:
BibTeX format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....) and APA format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....)
#Neolithic #TemplePeriod #Malta #Bibliography
April 9, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The third version of the Bibliography of the Temple builders in Malta are now available. 1480 entries in 10 categories.
Two variants:
BibTeX format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....) and APA format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....)
#Neolithic #TemplePeriod #Malta #Bibliography
Two variants:
BibTeX format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....) and APA format (doi.org/10.13140/RG....)
#Neolithic #TemplePeriod #Malta #Bibliography
Post a warning ⚠️ Attention work in progress
March 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Post a warning ⚠️ Attention work in progress
Upstream of the Wied Għollieqa, below a terrace wall: small circular structure (app. 3m diam.). Even more upstream some of the huge blocks (megaliths ?) have wedge holes. Rubble walls also in the vicinity probably to canalise the water during heavy rainfall.
February 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Upstream of the Wied Għollieqa, below a terrace wall: small circular structure (app. 3m diam.). Even more upstream some of the huge blocks (megaliths ?) have wedge holes. Rubble walls also in the vicinity probably to canalise the water during heavy rainfall.
Finally decided to buy the (expensive) "bible" of the prehistory in Malta:
John D. Evans 1971: The Prehistoric Antiquities of the Maltese Islands.
Not many publications do not have this one in the reference list.
412 pages to go, not so much reading. More studying.😍
John D. Evans 1971: The Prehistoric Antiquities of the Maltese Islands.
Not many publications do not have this one in the reference list.
412 pages to go, not so much reading. More studying.😍
February 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Finally decided to buy the (expensive) "bible" of the prehistory in Malta:
John D. Evans 1971: The Prehistoric Antiquities of the Maltese Islands.
Not many publications do not have this one in the reference list.
412 pages to go, not so much reading. More studying.😍
John D. Evans 1971: The Prehistoric Antiquities of the Maltese Islands.
Not many publications do not have this one in the reference list.
412 pages to go, not so much reading. More studying.😍
Terraces in the Wied Għollieqa (Msida, Malta). Stepping stones and ...
storage areas/shelters?
storage areas/shelters?
February 11, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Terraces in the Wied Għollieqa (Msida, Malta). Stepping stones and ...
storage areas/shelters?
storage areas/shelters?
Added "Dei monumenti antichi del gruppo di Malta Cenni storici: periodo fenicio ed egizio" to the public repository.
At that time the #Neolithic #megalithic remains in Malta were thought to be Phoenician.
Italian and English (auto translation).
tinyurl.com/2emt6r9d (1851)
tinyurl.com/4azw9emf (1876)
At that time the #Neolithic #megalithic remains in Malta were thought to be Phoenician.
Italian and English (auto translation).
tinyurl.com/2emt6r9d (1851)
tinyurl.com/4azw9emf (1876)
February 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Added "Dei monumenti antichi del gruppo di Malta Cenni storici: periodo fenicio ed egizio" to the public repository.
At that time the #Neolithic #megalithic remains in Malta were thought to be Phoenician.
Italian and English (auto translation).
tinyurl.com/2emt6r9d (1851)
tinyurl.com/4azw9emf (1876)
At that time the #Neolithic #megalithic remains in Malta were thought to be Phoenician.
Italian and English (auto translation).
tinyurl.com/2emt6r9d (1851)
tinyurl.com/4azw9emf (1876)
Does anyone know of the second granite column in Birgu (Malta)? It is in the Auberge de France on the top floor (attic) where I saw it 8 years ago.
The well known one is from Egyptian origin and in the St Anna's Chapel (Fort St Angelo) and put in place in 1531.
The well known one is from Egyptian origin and in the St Anna's Chapel (Fort St Angelo) and put in place in 1531.
February 2, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Does anyone know of the second granite column in Birgu (Malta)? It is in the Auberge de France on the top floor (attic) where I saw it 8 years ago.
The well known one is from Egyptian origin and in the St Anna's Chapel (Fort St Angelo) and put in place in 1531.
The well known one is from Egyptian origin and in the St Anna's Chapel (Fort St Angelo) and put in place in 1531.
Add two scanned books to my public Temple Period repository:
The Neolithic Temples of Hal-Tarxien, Malta (1925) (github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
and
The Neolithic temples of Hajar Kim and Mnaidra and the “Miska” reservoirs (1927)
(github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
Both by Themistocles Zammit.
The Neolithic Temples of Hal-Tarxien, Malta (1925) (github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
and
The Neolithic temples of Hajar Kim and Mnaidra and the “Miska” reservoirs (1927)
(github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
Both by Themistocles Zammit.
January 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Add two scanned books to my public Temple Period repository:
The Neolithic Temples of Hal-Tarxien, Malta (1925) (github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
and
The Neolithic temples of Hajar Kim and Mnaidra and the “Miska” reservoirs (1927)
(github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
Both by Themistocles Zammit.
The Neolithic Temples of Hal-Tarxien, Malta (1925) (github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
and
The Neolithic temples of Hajar Kim and Mnaidra and the “Miska” reservoirs (1927)
(github.com/Holistic-Chr...)
Both by Themistocles Zammit.
Second visit of last Sunday: megalithic site of Ras ir-Raħeb, Malta (#Neolithic #TemplePeriod 3400-2400 BCE). Later used in the Phoenician-Punic period (750-218 BCE). The two megaliths seem structural and macro-petrographical to have formed one initially. Never excavated.
📷 me
📷 me
January 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Second visit of last Sunday: megalithic site of Ras ir-Raħeb, Malta (#Neolithic #TemplePeriod 3400-2400 BCE). Later used in the Phoenician-Punic period (750-218 BCE). The two megaliths seem structural and macro-petrographical to have formed one initially. Never excavated.
📷 me
📷 me
Last Sunday visit: megalithic site of Kunċizzjoni, Malta (#Neolithic #TemplePeriod 3400-2400 BCE). Excavated in 1938. Small sub-circular structure (ca. 7m diameter). Currently in a bad state 😢
📷 me
📷 me
January 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Last Sunday visit: megalithic site of Kunċizzjoni, Malta (#Neolithic #TemplePeriod 3400-2400 BCE). Excavated in 1938. Small sub-circular structure (ca. 7m diameter). Currently in a bad state 😢
📷 me
📷 me
Yesterday at The National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta.
An artifact (bottom left, deep black) classified as bone fragment that resembles a Belemnite (Secondary). No Secondary stones exist in Malta.
An artifact (bottom left, deep black) classified as bone fragment that resembles a Belemnite (Secondary). No Secondary stones exist in Malta.
December 24, 2024 at 10:19 AM
Yesterday at The National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta.
An artifact (bottom left, deep black) classified as bone fragment that resembles a Belemnite (Secondary). No Secondary stones exist in Malta.
An artifact (bottom left, deep black) classified as bone fragment that resembles a Belemnite (Secondary). No Secondary stones exist in Malta.
I like to distinguish 4 phases of archaeological research.
1 Field Archaeology
=> collecting data: contexts, artefacts, …
2 Laboratory Archaeology
=> collecting indirect data: C-14 dating, chemical analysis, …
3 Desktop Archaeology
=> data enrichment: charts, graphs, GIS, …
1/2
1 Field Archaeology
=> collecting data: contexts, artefacts, …
2 Laboratory Archaeology
=> collecting indirect data: C-14 dating, chemical analysis, …
3 Desktop Archaeology
=> data enrichment: charts, graphs, GIS, …
1/2
December 6, 2024 at 4:21 PM
I like to distinguish 4 phases of archaeological research.
1 Field Archaeology
=> collecting data: contexts, artefacts, …
2 Laboratory Archaeology
=> collecting indirect data: C-14 dating, chemical analysis, …
3 Desktop Archaeology
=> data enrichment: charts, graphs, GIS, …
1/2
1 Field Archaeology
=> collecting data: contexts, artefacts, …
2 Laboratory Archaeology
=> collecting indirect data: C-14 dating, chemical analysis, …
3 Desktop Archaeology
=> data enrichment: charts, graphs, GIS, …
1/2
Similarities in time and space.
Left: Tell Brak Syria, 6000 - 3000 BCE
Middle: Malta, provenance and thus time context not known
Right: Tarxien Malta, 2800 - 2400 BCE or younger as inlaid with gold not known in the Neolithic in Malta
Refs to other artefacts (old ones 😆) welcome.
As well as ideas.
Left: Tell Brak Syria, 6000 - 3000 BCE
Middle: Malta, provenance and thus time context not known
Right: Tarxien Malta, 2800 - 2400 BCE or younger as inlaid with gold not known in the Neolithic in Malta
Refs to other artefacts (old ones 😆) welcome.
As well as ideas.
November 30, 2024 at 5:45 PM
Similarities in time and space.
Left: Tell Brak Syria, 6000 - 3000 BCE
Middle: Malta, provenance and thus time context not known
Right: Tarxien Malta, 2800 - 2400 BCE or younger as inlaid with gold not known in the Neolithic in Malta
Refs to other artefacts (old ones 😆) welcome.
As well as ideas.
Left: Tell Brak Syria, 6000 - 3000 BCE
Middle: Malta, provenance and thus time context not known
Right: Tarxien Malta, 2800 - 2400 BCE or younger as inlaid with gold not known in the Neolithic in Malta
Refs to other artefacts (old ones 😆) welcome.
As well as ideas.
First level of inventory of #CartRuts finished 🎂.
128 locations, 822 stretches.
A little bit of field validation ahead 😂.
Likely not #Neolithic but intriguing nevertheless.
Sources: #Bibliography and #AerialImages, created #GIS layers for each of them.
📷 me
📍Mġar, Malta
📆 2017-04-23
128 locations, 822 stretches.
A little bit of field validation ahead 😂.
Likely not #Neolithic but intriguing nevertheless.
Sources: #Bibliography and #AerialImages, created #GIS layers for each of them.
📷 me
📍Mġar, Malta
📆 2017-04-23
November 22, 2024 at 7:15 AM
First level of inventory of #CartRuts finished 🎂.
128 locations, 822 stretches.
A little bit of field validation ahead 😂.
Likely not #Neolithic but intriguing nevertheless.
Sources: #Bibliography and #AerialImages, created #GIS layers for each of them.
📷 me
📍Mġar, Malta
📆 2017-04-23
128 locations, 822 stretches.
A little bit of field validation ahead 😂.
Likely not #Neolithic but intriguing nevertheless.
Sources: #Bibliography and #AerialImages, created #GIS layers for each of them.
📷 me
📍Mġar, Malta
📆 2017-04-23
The figure on the left seems to have a recurve bow, reportedly existing in Egypt and Asia from 2000 BC on.
I have one myself, a short barebow (horsebow).
I have one myself, a short barebow (horsebow).
November 21, 2024 at 2:59 AM
The figure on the left seems to have a recurve bow, reportedly existing in Egypt and Asia from 2000 BC on.
I have one myself, a short barebow (horsebow).
I have one myself, a short barebow (horsebow).
Long term #ExperimentalArchaeology project 😂:
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.
November 20, 2024 at 6:29 AM
Long term #ExperimentalArchaeology project 😂:
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.
Growing a Sandarac Gum Tree (National tree of Malta and protected) to collect the gum for making (possible) #Neolithic #paint.
L-għargħar (pronounced L-ah-r-aar) , Tetraclinis articulata.