From the Din l-Art Ħelwa Archives - George Camilleri

From the DIN L-ART ĦELWA ARCHI VES

A LETTER FROM JOAN DU PLAT TAYLOR

There is an interesting letter in the Din l-Art Ħelwa archives from Joan Mabel Frederica du Plat Taylor, dated 12 April 1967. Joan du Plat Taylor (1906-83) was born in Glasgow into a military family. She was brought up in Cyprus and was heavily involved in the archaeological scene from a very young age. She had no formal training but became well known for her work and writings on Cypriot archaeology.

After the war she was appointed librarian to the Institute of Archaeology, University College, London and took an interest in underwater archaeology. Although not a keen active diver herself, she was in charge of many nautical expeditions of the period. A good friend of Honor Frost, they were early promoters of the committee for Nautical Archaeology at the Institute and edited the definitive book Marine Archaeology published in 1965.

John Woods, leader of the Imperial College team, acknowledged her as an invaluable adviser to their 1961 Malta expedition at Xlendi. There is also correspondence between du Plat Taylor and Olof Gollcher at the archives of the Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum.

The Din l-Art Ħelwa letter is addressed to Vera Greer, a keen supporter and activist for Din l-Art Ħelwa and who probably hosted her at ‘San Clemente’, her home at the foot of Saqqaja Hill in Rabat. Vera Greer was a prominent British resident in Malta, involved in conservation and the mother of the author Dame Penelope Lively.

It is interesting to keep in mind that Honor Frost investigated the Mellieha Bay wreck later in 1967 but this April letter was written earlier and there is no mention of the Mellieha wreck in it. She enclosed two photographs of sites mentioned in her letter.

ARCHI VES By George E. Camilleri

Two photographs enclosed with the letter from Joan du Plat Taylor, 1967 12th April 1967

My dear Mrs. Greer,

During my most enjoyable visit to you, I was most interested, from the point of view of maritime archaeology, in exploring the bays and creeks around the island.

These must have been used as harbours in ancient times, as they are used by fishermen now. The cuttings, steps and tanks on the rock platforms do not seem to have been studied and it would appear to me to be an urgent matter to do this before they are covered of necessity as at Wied-es-Zurrieg and Ghar Lapsi, by modern quays. Others, as Gnejna, where there are rock cut bollards, steps and tie-holes might be protected.

Elsewhere I am informed there are Roman quays, and the remains of ancient harbour works in Salena Bay, which I feel should be recorded and explored before they are lost beneath modern development.

The ancient rock-cut salt pans continue a system which was certainly before Roman times, and may cease to work when the modern desalination plant comes into use. Some, as at Delimara Pt., should be preserved.

My committee, as you know, are concerned with the recording and preservation of all matters pertaining to maritime archaeology, including finds from underwater. Maltese waters have already yielded interesting types of old anchors, as well as pottery, which are in the museum and private collections. Doubtless many more underwater sites are yet to be found. This aspect of the archaeological heritage in Malta, as in other countries, is only beginning to be studied, so if my committee can help Din L’Art Helwa in any way towards the preservation of the Maltese coastal sites, please call on us and we shall be happy to do so.

With best wishes for the work of Din L’Art Helwa.

Yours very sincerely, J. du Plat Taylor. Secretary.

George Camilleri is a retired dental surgeon and former dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the University of Malta. He is now researching the history of dentistry in Malta and is a volunteer archivist at Din l-Art Ħelwa.