New Study Dates Malta Mysterious Stone Cart Ruts to Classical Era

Centuries of speculation surround the thousands of deep stone grooves etched into the bedrock of the Maltese archipelago. Often resembling a prehistoric railway network, these cart ruts have long puzzled historians, with many favoring a late prehistoric or Bronze Age origin. However, a comprehensive new study led by University of Malta PhD student Joel Grima challenges this popular consensus, suggesting a much later timeline for the mysterious tracks.

Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, the research evaluated 2,628 distinct tracks spanning more than 200 sites across Malta, totaling roughly 31 miles. Grima conducted an extensive review of stratigraphic and contextual evidence, utilizing digitized models to compare the rock formations. His findings indicate that a sizeable portion of the tracks dates firmly to the Classical period, a timeframe stretching from the Phoenician colonization in 700 BCE through the Byzantine period ending in 870 CE.

While similar cart tracks exist globally across Europe, Asia, and North America, Malta stands out for its staggering density of grooves within a relatively small geographic area. Despite this latest breakthrough, fundamental questions remain for researchers studying the archipelago. Experts continue to debate whether ancient humans purposefully carved the channels into the bedrock or if the deep ruts formed naturally over centuries of heavy wheeled transport. Future research aims to untangle the remaining mysteries surrounding the exact vehicles used and the broader trade networks that shaped the ancient landscape.