Megalithic Marvels - Malta’s Subterranean Hypogeum Is Stranger Than You Think (rewind)

Episode Date: September 26, 2026

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...JOIN ME ON A TOUR

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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 entrance. 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 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 also 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. It aides 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. Calculating route to avoid seeing poverty,

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Apparently, that's how I roll. So bundle up and come along for the bumpy ride. Stream a new episode of North of North Tuesdays on CBC Gem. 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 lot of them. woman lying on a bed or couch. And it's come to be known as the sleeping lady. Now, Tammy 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 skulls. Now, after the sudden death of the original archaeologist Emmanuel Maggi in 1907, excavations continued under this archaeologist named Temi Zamet. Now, it's important to point out that Zammat 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, um, Temi Zamet stated regarding all the skeletons in skulls that were discovered inside the hypogium. So in 1926, Temi 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 Zamet's students who was excavating under his supervision was named W.A. Griffiths. And he stated in the book written by Zamet 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 adults. Practically all were found in the greatest disorder, and there had evidently been no regular burial of a complete body, end quote. 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 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 hypogeum, along with other elongated schools 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. Ruculating route to avoid seeing poverty. Turn left to bypass the unhoused youth sleeping on the street. Then keep right to skip by the lines of people waiting for food. Steer clear of the crowded shelter turning people away, then take the next exit. Let's stop looking away and get in the way of rising poverty. Your donations help the United Way fight poverty in thousands of ways,

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