Has the lost medieval church been unearthed in Sannat?

Remains of what appears to be a medieval church have been unearthed in a Sannat field during works related to the construction of a block of apartments.

Over the years, historians have referred to a Santa Marija ta’ nofs Awwissu church in Sannat, which was first documented in 1545 but probably dates back to the 1300s.

As soon as it got to know about the discovery, Wirt Għawdex alerted the Planning Authority and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which informed the NGO that the site in Sannat was being monitored by an archaeologist.

The NGO was told that so far the only work on site formed part of the process of the planning application and was being supervised by the superintendence.

The development, which was granted permission in March, will see the construction of 43 garages, overlying 30 units on two floors and an additional 12 apartments at set-back floor level.

According to a submission by the superintendence, the site in Sannat is located in an area of archaeological sensitivity. Scheduled prehistoric cart ruts and other rock-cut features were recorded in the vicinity of the proposed development.

The Times of Malta has been informed that the field was cleared from...