Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
The Hypogeum, photograph by Richard Ellis, before 1910 | |
| Alternative name | Ħal Saflieni Prehistoric Hypogeum (official name) |
|---|---|
| Location | Paola, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°52′10.5″N 14°30′24.5″E / 35.869583°N 14.506806°E |
| Area | 500m2 |
| History | |
| Material | Limestone |
| Founded | c.4000 BC (earliest remains) |
| Abandoned | c.2500 BC |
| Periods | Saflieni phase |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1903–1908, 1990–1993 |
| Archaeologists | Manuel Magri Themistocles Zammit |
| Condition | Preserved and restored in 2017 |
| Ownership | Government of Malta |
| Management | Heritage Malta |
| Public access | Yes (limited) |
| Website | Heritage Malta |
| Official name | Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii |
| Designated | 1980 (4th session) |
| Reference no. | 130 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
The Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni (Maltese: Ipoġew ta' Ħal Saflieni [ɪpɔˈd͡ʒɛʊ̯ tɐ ħɐl sɐfˈlɪːnɪ]) is a Neolithic subterranean structure dating to the Saflieni phase (3300 – 3000 BC) in Maltese prehistory, located in Paola, Malta. It is often simply referred to as the Hypogeum, literally meaning "underground" in Greek. The Hypogeum is thought to have been a sanctuary and necropolis, with the estimated remains of more than 7,000 people documented by archeologists, and is among the best preserved examples of the Maltese temple building culture that also produced the Megalithic Temples and Xagħra Stone Circle.