Laura of Megalith Hunter tells Nikkiana Jones what archaeology says about who settled Malta, why the temple builders left and the gaps in the island's record. She also gives her view on the Younger Dryas, lost-civilization theories and why so many sites remain unexcavated.
Laura starts with Malta's few menhirs, megaliths built into modern rubble walls and the Xagħra stone circle on Gozo, then explains why archaeologists leave some sites for future generations. Nikki draws on her restoration work to explain how earlier repairs can damage objects. Asked about the Younger Dryas, Laura points to the FRAGSUS project (2013 to 2018) and its work on environmental degradation at the end of the temple period, look-alike monuments on Menorca, and the "fifth millennium hiatus" after Malta's first farmers arrived from Sicily. She says she likes lost-civilization ideas and has read Graham Hancock but feels the evidence is still missing. Nikki raises the abandonment of Chaco Canyon, and Laura asks why healthy, seafaring people who traded obsidian from Pantelleria and Lipari would leave. Laura then shares lesser-known findings from recent papers, such as snail figurines placed in the walls at Santa Verna on Gozo. Theories here are the speakers' own views, and the archaeological details are as Laura summarized them.
Highlights:
- Menhirs, rubble walls and the Xagħra stone circle on Gozo
- Why archaeologists leave some sites unexcavated
- The FRAGSUS project and the fifth millennium hiatus
- Laura's careful take on lost-civilization theories and dating stone
- Snail figurines at Santa Verna and other lesser-known findings
Chapters:
00:00 Menhirs in Malta and stone circles on Gozo
01:23 Why some sites are left unexcavated
01:57 Nikki on restoration and digging at Giza
03:15 Collaboration and boots on the ground
04:48 The Younger Dryas and the FRAGSUS project
06:01 The fifth millennium hiatus and Malta's settlers
08:02 Laura on lost-civilization theories
10:36 Dating stone and catastrophes
13:11 Chaco Canyon and sudden abandonments
13:46 Healthy islanders who left
16:13 Snail figurines at Santa Verna and recent papers
17:25 Making academic papers accessible
This is an archival replay, not current news. Original YouTube publish date: September 12, 2021. Source timestamps: 0:38:08.620–0:57:02.420. Full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXaQuSDZ0_Y
References to "recent" research are as of 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
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CONTACT: Nikkianajones@protonmail.com
