Għar Dalam

Għar Dalam is a prehistoric limestone cave on the southeastern coast of Malta near the village of Birżebbuġa, noted for its long sequence of Pleistocene animal remains and deposits associated with the island’s earliest human occupation. The site preserves both natural and archaeological deposits that are important to Malta’s prehistory.

A short, accessible cave tunnel leads to inner chambers containing a dense bone bed with remains of large Pleistocene mammals, including dwarf forms of elephant and hippopotamus. The adjacent museum displays finds and explains stratigraphy; the cave itself is roughly 144 metres in length and is divided into four main chambers.

Excavations begun in the 19th century identified distinct fossil and archaeological layers, linking the bone deposits to Pleistocene fauna and the upper layers to Neolithic human activity. The deposits provide evidence for both extinct animals and some of the earliest human presence on Malta.

The site sits near Birżebbuġa on Malta’s southeastern coast, a short drive from major towns on the island and accessible by road from the main southbound route. Parking and a small visitor area are adjacent to the cave entrance.

• Cave length: The cave passage is approximately 144 metres long and is divided into four chambers, the inner chambers containing the main fossil deposits.
• Visitor note: Low light and uneven surfaces inside the cave make sturdy footwear and a warm layer advisable even on warm days.

What to See #

• Cave chambers: A karst cave about 144 metres long arranged in four chambers, with a thick bone bed of Pleistocene fauna in the inner chamber including dwarf elephant and hippopotamus remains.
• Għar Dalam Museum: Small on-site museum and display area that interprets the palaeontological and early human finds recovered from the site.