Laura of Megalith Hunter and Nikkiana Jones walk through some of the strangest features of Malta's Neolithic temples, from the Sleeping Lady of the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum to oracle holes, hinge holes and pitted decoration. Laura describes a puzzling altar with drilled holes at Mnajdra and finishes with plain definitions of a dolmen, cairn, temple and menhir.
Laura explains that the figurines come from temple sites and the hypogeum rather than simple rock-cut tombs, and the two discuss whether their size reflected beauty, wealth, leaders or deities. Laura says giant legends about the temples date from more recent times, while some temple doorways are surprisingly small. She questions the popular idea of a priestess speaking through an oracle hole, and Nikki suggests the stones may be the "bones" of buildings that once had other materials. Laura describes rows of drilled holes of different lengths at Mnajdra that some have linked to counting days between the appearance of certain stars, an idea she notes is unproven, along with libation holes and an altar she cannot see how anyone entered. Nikki compares Malta's spirals with Neolithic Ireland and describes how dinosaur tracks at Glen Rose have faded since they were uncovered, and Laura explains the protective covers and environmental monitoring at Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien. These are the speakers' own observations and interpretations.
Highlights:
- The Sleeping Lady and where Malta's figurines were found
- Oracle holes, hinge holes and pitted decoration
- The drilled-hole altar at Mnajdra and the star-counting idea
- Why exposed limestone sites need protection
- Plain definitions: dolmen, cairn, temple and menhir
Chapters:
00:00 The Sleeping Lady and where figurines were found
01:30 Body ideals, wealth or deities?
03:19 Giants, trilithons and tiny portals
04:23 What were the oracle holes for?
06:27 Hinge holes and the bones of buildings
06:57 Pitted decoration, spirals and bare temples
08:47 The drilled-hole altar at Mnajdra
11:33 Spirals and Ireland
12:37 Nikki's Glen Rose dinosaur tracks and limestone erosion
14:52 Protective covers and monitoring at the temples
15:59 Dolmens, cairns, temples and menhirs defined
This is an archival replay, not current news. Original YouTube publish date: September 12, 2021. Source timestamps: 0:19:28.570–0:38:08.620. Full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXaQuSDZ0_Y
Site access and conservation arrangements described are as they were in the original 2021 recording. Links and contact details in the original description below are reproduced as they appeared at the time of the original recording.
Original YouTube description:
Laura is really the real Laura Croft aka Megalith Hunter.
Currently she lives in Malta and does some serious boots on the ground research into all the megaliths on the main Island and Gozo. In this discussion we go over the gaps in the populations of the island, the fat lady figurines, spirals, libation holes, Oracle holes, pitted designs, Dolmens, Menhirs, cairns, stone circles, Temples, Apses, Alters and Cart Ruts!
Such a great talk with a super sharp researcher. Please check Laura out here:
Her amazing website: https://www.megalithhunter.com
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MegalithHunter
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/megalithhunter/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1h5DRXcUj0jNv2dUFv6x59?si=4A1dNsxERsGzeDHnZFthmw&dl_branch=1
And if you want to hit Nikki up: Nikkianajones@protonmail.com
Telegram channel: https://t.me/nikkiana_jones
IG: nikkiana_jones
Twitter: @LivingExtraord1
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/nikkianajones
Become a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nikkiana-jones-exploring-the-fringe--6742287/support.
If you want more info contact me here:
YOUTUBE:@nikkianajones
WEBSITE: https://www.nikkianajones.com/
TELEGRAM: https://t.me/nikkiana_jones
X: @LivingExtraord1
IG: nikkiana_jones
PODCAST: nikkianajones
CONTACT: Nikkianajones@protonmail.com
