Megalithic Marvels - Archaeoacoustics, Elongated Skulls & Missing People in Malta’s Subterranean Megalithic Labyrinth

Episode Date: July 31, 2023

Malta is one of the most mysterious islands in the world. A prehistoric civilization once thrived here building megalithic sites all over the landscape, yet its most mysterious site lies hidden deep underneath the ground. Known as the Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni, this subterranean labyrinth of interconnecting elliptical chambers was engineered straight from the bedrock and features three different levels. This mysterious site features an oracle chamber that resonates throughout the entire structure where 7,000 + skeletons were discovered inside - most of whom possessed elongated skulls. Who were these ancient humanoids? Strangest of all, stories from the 1920s recount how a group of children descended down into the Hypogeum never to return again... TOURS Join us for the adventure of a lifetime on one of our upcoming tours, click this link for more info: https://megalithicmarvels.com/tours/

Malta is one of the most mysterious islands in the world. A prehistoric civilization once thrived here building megalithic sites all over the landscape. One such site is a temple complex known as Gigantia that likely features some of the oldest cyclopian blocks on the planet. Now legends abound of a race of ancient giants that once ruled this island. For example, this very site of Gigantia, oral traditions whisper that a giant named Sansuna is said to have actually constructed this site. Now, unlike many other megalithic sites found around the globe in places such as Peru or Egypt that are made of granite, most of the stone on the island of Malta is limestone, which is much softer than granite. Therefore, all the sites that are above ground here on Malta are severely eroded by the ages of time.

However, one of the best preserved and most mysterious sites found on Malta is hidden underground. Known as the Hypogee-Hall-Saflini, this subterranean labyrinth of interconnecting elliptical chambers was hewn and engineered straight from the limestone bedrock and features three different levels. Hypogeum is a Greek word, I believe, that means underground. And it has been estimated that more than 2,000 tons of limestone were likely quarried out and removed for its construction. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this megalithic marvel is dated by mainstream academia, to go back to the prehistoric period of at least 4,000 BC, likely making it the oldest underground necropolis temple in the world.

But could it actually be even older than that? Now, this entire structure is believed to have once been covered in prehistory by a surface shrine or a temple structure that covered it, but was eventually destroyed later on. And when it was destroyed, it obviously would have covered up the entrances into this labyrinth underneath. So I guess that's the silver lining

with the overhead structure falling apart is it basically kept the subterranean part hidden for thousands upon thousands of years. Because it wasn't until 1902 when the structure was uncovered by accident when workers began construction on a nearby housing development. So they find the structure a year later in 1903 of the first excavations of the site began. And they were led by a Jesuit father who was also an archaeologist named Emmanuel Magri.

Now this first archaeologist Magri oversaw the project for five years until his sudden death in 1907. Now sadly, his notes disappeared along with him. In efforts to find and retrieve them have been unsuccessful. The Hal Sofellini Hypogeum is one of the best preserved and most extensive ancient structures that have survived into modern times. Now, the ground level of the site features is this trilathon-style stone entrance and also a shaft that descends down to this mid-level. The mid-level descends down to about 20 feet below the ground level, and it's the largest of all the levels. It's got over 20 different chambers on this mid-level. And on this mid-level are a few more trilathon stone-style entrances that were all.

constructed. Now the most fascinating part of this mid-level chamber, if not the entire hypogium, is what is known as the Oracle chamber. And this gets me excited because this contains a carved out niche in the wall with a rounded interior surface. Now anything spoken into this niche produces an echo which reverberates throughout the entire hypogeum. And apparently echoes from the speaking chamber or this oracle chamber reverberate into a rhythm that is similar to the human heartbeat. So it's like a word spoken in this oracle chamber is magnified over and over, apparently almost like a hundredfold. And it's audible throughout the entire structure. According to some accounts, it creates,

aughts an effect that is like being inside a giant bell. And at certain pitches, the listener feels the sound literally almost vibrating in their bones and tissues as much as they hear it in their ears. According to arts and architecture critic Richard Storm, who's been inside this resonance chamber, he says, quote, because you sense something coming from somewhere else you can't identify, you are transfixed, end quote. Also, Maltese composer Ruben Zara and an Italian research team found that sound resonates at 110 hertz within the Oracle chamber. Research done by the University of Sienna has shown that the construction of the chamber was, made in a way to affect the psyche of people. Some researchers even believe this chamber was most likely the place where the priests would produce sound that would enhance the effectiveness

of their strange rituals. More and more research seems to be finding that the effect on the psyche of the ancients through acoustic properties suggest the builders of these sites. had knowledge of this process and probably used it to enhance their rituals. So it's amazing that without the use of modern day metals, these ancients of Malta were erecting one of the first domed structures on earth that incorporated highly advanced acoustics. Again, very similar to what I've seen in Peru and in many places in Egypt. I've also got to point out that on this level, this mid-level, is what's known as the painted chamber by some. And it features these spiral and honeycomb designs made of red ochre, this mineral pigment.

And these decorations are elaborate and supposedly they're the only prehistoric wall paintings found on the Maltese Islands. There is also a circular chamber on the mid-level that's known as, the snake pit. And this is where some of the most fascinating artifacts discovered in the hypogium were found in this snake pit chamber. And one of them depicts what is a woman lying on a bed or couch. And it's come to be known as the sleeping lady. Now, Temi Zamet, the second archaeologist who took over for the first one, and this guy was excavating in the early 1900s as well, he stated that he believed this statue of the sleeping lady

represented a priestess dreaming near the sacred places and the hope of obtaining inspiration to declare the words of the holy oracle. Now underneath the mid-level is the third level, which is closed to the public, but it descends down to 33 feet below ground level. We're definitely going to get more into the third level at the end of this episode. And I'm going to share with you a very strange account that supposedly happened in this third level. So don't miss that.

But first, let's talk about the skills. Now, after the sudden death of the original archaeologist Emmanuel Magri in 1907, excavations continued under this archaeologist named Temi Zamet. Now, it's important to point out that Zamet proved himself to be not merely an archaeologist, but he was a brilliant medical doctor, apparently one of Malta's best ever doctors. And so by virtue of his medical training, it's also known that he was a very capable physical anthropologist. So that's, I think, very important to note when we read about what Temi Zammett stated regarding all the skeletons in skulls that were discovered inside the hypogium. So in 1926, Timmy Zamet states that he discovered over 7,000.

That's right. 7,000 skeletons piled within various chambers of the hypogium. And he described most of the skulls as being, quote, of the long variety, end quote. Now, one of Zammett's students who was excavating under his supervision was named W.A. Griffiths. And he stated in the book written by Zammett that, quote, most of the rooms were found to be half filled with earth, human bones, and broken pottery. It has been estimated that the ruins contained the bones of 33,000 persons, mostly a dozen. Practically all were found in the greatest disorder and there had evidently banned no regular burial of a complete body." Now these numbers that these original excavators are using are incredible.

I mean, we're hearing 33,000 possible skeletons represented, 7,000 skeletons piled up. This is crazy. In one particular area that Zammett and his team excavated, they write how the bones lay so thickly that in a space of about four cubic yards lay the remains of no less than 120 individuals. So this thing was literally packed with human bones and skeletons. And I might talk about this in a little bit, but I don't believe this hypojean was originally just built to be a burial tomb. I think, that as years went on, later civilizations and inhabitants used it to bury their dead and just

throw them in there. Now, as I began to look into these skulls deeper and read the writings of these original archaeologists and other researchers that I'm going to reference here soon, it's obvious that these skulls feature strange genetic anomalies. Some of that would include cranial knitting lines, abnormally developed temporal partitions. There's even ever, evidence of drilling and swelling at the back of the heads. And these elongated skulls are also missing the sagittal sutures. That to me is very genetic. Now it is known and been documented by some that some of these skulls were on display in the

archaeological museum in Valletta on Malta up until the early 1980s. However, after 1985, all the skulls that had been found in the hypogium, along with other elongated skulls found across multiple ancient sites on Malta, were all removed from public display by Heritage Malta. This is the authority responsible for Malta's prehistoric heritage. Now, Heritage Malta insists that the schools have been available for scientific research. However, only a handful of people seem to have actually been granted permission to view them. One of these people was Dr. Anton Mifsud, who published articles detailing the skulls elongation. Now, his research confirmed that the craniums were naturally long and not the result of headbinding. Notice how I said that part kind of slow.

Because that is always the answer I get back. If I talk about elongated skulls or post a photo, oh, that's cradle headboarding or that's headbinding. Yeah, many skulls are headboarded or headbinded, and that's why the shape is altered. But there's many schools on earth, such as these, I believe, in Malta, that are naturally long. It means they were born that way.

So again, this Dr. Anton Mifsaid published articles detailing the skulls elongation on Malta. And the paper that I read through is called the elite longheads of Malta. So he's obviously insinuating that these long-headed, elongated, skull peoples or humanoids were elite or were the ruling class. of their age. That's interesting to think about. So in this publication, the elite longheads of Malta, Mifzad draws parallels and conclusions related to the Egyptian culture and their so-called serpent priests. Now, I believe it was the second archaeologist Zammett who wrote somewhere that the majority of the bones and skulls that they were finding inside the hypogeum basically fell the dust and crumbled upon the first touch,

and that only about 20 of them really remained intact. Now, out of these 20, the whereabouts of only six of the skulls are supposedly currently known today. And what remains to testify of their existence and abnormality are the photos that this Dr. Anton Mifsa and his colleague, Dr. Charles Ventura detailed in their books about the abnormalities of the skulls. During the 80s and 90s, this Dr. Anton Mifsaid managed to capture a few photographs of the then surviving six skulls that were exhibited at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

So if you're watching this by video, you're going to see now or soon photos of these skulls on the screen. So in his publication titled the elite longheads of Malta, Mifsaid stated, quote, great reluctance prevails on the part of several members of the local archaeological establishment to acknowledge the true nature of our Maltese ancestors. The evidence of Paleolithic art in Malta has been wiped out. At the present time, the long-headedness of the late Neolithic Maltese is being challenged in the very same spot where these people practiced their religious rituals in the Hal Saflini Hypogeum, end quote. So from a guy who's spent a lifetime researching the hypogeum and these skulls found inside

and traveling to Malta, or he might even live in Malta actually, this myth said, those are some pretty damning statements about the mainstream archaeological community and the seemingly cover-up that it has ensued regarding the site in these skulls. Now Mifsaid goes on to write in his book that the two publications that had measured the skulls in 1910 and 1911 both pronounced all the hypogeum skulls as long-headed or elongated. And the 1910 measurements had been carried out in accordance with the rules laid down by the International Congress for the unification of craniometric measures of 1907. Two men by the name of Vittorio D. Cesar and Adriano Forgione of Hara or Hara magazine in Rome,

Italy, these were the two only non-officials to obtain permission, apparently, to investigate these hypogium skulls. And they published a very thorough article regarding their findings. Now, their research confirmed that the cranium of these skulls was naturally long and not the result of bandaging or boards. And they couldn't find any evidence of median knitting or sagittal sutures. Now in 1920, National Geographic magazine in their January to June issue reported that the first inhabitants of Malta were a race with elongated skulls. And in the article, they wrote, quote, From an examination of the skeletons of the polished stone age, it appears that the early inhabitants of Malta were a race of long-skulled people of lower medium height.

akin to the early people of Egypt, who spread westward along the north coast of Africa, whence some went to Malta and Sicily and others to Sardinia and Spain, end quote. So to me it's ironic that we've got National Geographic, which today is considered the mainstream gatekeeper, or one of them, of all things, history, right? In the 1920s, they're writing that these rulers of Malta were elongated, scold peoples. Now, this next paragraph I'm going to read you really caught my attention. I've heard a lot about this story over the years and always been intrigued by it, but I had never heard this part until just a couple weeks ago.

Anton Mifzad, author and researcher who wrote this book called elite longheads of Malta. In writing about the cover-up of this site and these skulls, he writes the following, quote, the entire structure had risked total collapse during its refurbishment because of neglect. Crucial artifacts such as a painted bull had been erased from one of the walls on the second level. And a large six-fingered hand, had been engraved on another wall, had been obscured into oblivion. These acts had been perpetrated through the irresponsible activities of certain senior archaeologists, end quote. And he's again talking about his visits to the hypogeum in the 80s and 90s, I believe.

Mifsud also wrote that in 1973, a very large quantity, of human remains were also discovered at a smaller hypogeum site in Santa Lucia, called the Santa Lucia Hypogeum. And these have never, ever been exhibited as well, and their present-day whereabouts is unknown. Let's wrap this up by getting back to the topic of the third level of the hypogium. I believe it was the second archaeologist Zamet who wrote that a number of seven specific steps led from the middle level of the hypogium down towards the lower level. And remember that I stated earlier, the third level descends down to 33 feet below ground level. And this third level is now closed to the public. And there may be a reason for this.

again according to National Geographic magazine in their August 1940 publication they wrote an article that was titled Wanderers A Wheel in Malta and the subheading was Tragedy in Malta's Tunneled Maze

and this is written by the author Richard Walter and I'm going to read it for you now quote, prehistoric man built temples and chambers in these vaults. In a pit beside one sacrificial altar lie thousands of human skeletons. While we cycled homework, our friends told us that the island was honeycombed with a network of underground passages, many of them catacombs. Years ago, one could walk underground from one end of Malta, to the other, but all entrances were closed by the government because of a tragedy.

On a sight-seeing trip comparable to a nature study tour in our own schools, a number of elementary school children and their teachers descended into the tunneled maze and did not return. For weeks, mothers declared that they had heard wailing and screaming from underground. But numerous excavations and search parties brought no trace of the lost souls. After three weeks, they were finally given up for dead. So that is a literal article from the August 1940 National Geographic magazine. There's some other publications out there that I believe shared the story, but National Geographic would be the biggest. A crazy account if true. And that to me is what is so amazing and mysterious about this site. You've got

this beautiful island with these prehistoric megalithic structures all over the surface. We talked about one of the other ones at the beginning of this show. And then you've got the hypojeum itself, which is just incredible ancient engineering, subterranean, But it's not just that. You've got the Oracle Chamber. You've got resonance and acoustics. We've got artifacts of the sleeping lady. We've got these incredible, colorful red ochre paintings.

We've got a depiction of a six-fingered hand on one of the walls of the hypogeum. We've got all these skeletons with elongated, skulls and odd genetic anomalies that were discovered inside the structure. And sadly, if true, we also have missing people that went down into this subterranean structure to the third level and were never seen again. So you've got all these different aspects. To me, it makes for an incredible story. this is an incredible ancient structure full of so much mystery and intrigue and it really brings so many questions to light

why were all these elongated skulls in Malta removed from public display after 1985 and it wasn't again just from the hypogeum but it was these other sites too where elongated naturally elongated skulls were discovered why are they now only available apparently to researchers these should be the greatest artifacts and specimens on display there in the National Museum of Archaeology on Malta. You know, does this cover up have anything to do with the sudden death of the original archaeologist Emmanuel Magri and his reports that disappeared? Why were they never found? Why were they never published? And why has the number, original numbers of skeletons changed from 33,000 to 7,000. I saw 100 somewhere down to 20, and now apparently there's only six left. I get that,

you know, some schools are going to crumble and they're just going to fall apart. But only six. I also can't help but wonder why were these ancient elongated, skilled peoples or humanoids of Malta living underground? Were they somehow survivors of a great ancient, cataclysm, maybe a solar disaster, solar flare, and they had to get underground to survive. And or were these elite, long-headed humanoids using this sub-training chamber for ritual purposes? Were they abducting normal humans on the surface and enslaving them underground? Were they using the resonance chamber to transfix, to hypnotize, to seduce their captives? Were these elongated skull people's hybrid humanoids of sorts?

That's what I lean towards. Did these elongated skulls give them telepathic communication abilities? And does that relate again to the Oracle Chamber? So many questions regarding this site, but one thing is for certain. There is a whole lot of mystery in Malta.