Għar Dalam Cave and Museum - Heritage Malta
Source: https://heritagemalta.org/ghar-dalam
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:39
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum - Heritage Malta
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Malta’s oldest prehistoric site of Għar Dalam engages visitors to take a journey to a time before human habitation, when animals such as elephants, hippopotami, and red deer roamed the pristine wilderness of the Ice Age.
No such animals have lived on the Maltese Islands for thousands of years.
Rows of ancient animal bones, unearthed from Għar Dalam cave, are exhibited in the Joseph Baldacchino Hall, which still retains one of a handful of Victorian-style displays in Europe.
The George Zammit Maempel Hall presents the historical aspects of the cave in a more didactic manner, as well as detailed displays on the various species discovered in Malta’s Pleistocene (‘Ice Age’) deposits. Even more Pleistocene animal fossils are still visible inside the cave.
A series of archaeological excavations held in the cave in the latter half of the 19th century revealed an extensive amount of animal bones, the earliest of which were deposited over 160,000 years ago.
Due to the climatic fluctuations of the Ice Age, sea levels dropped in the Mediterranean, facilitating animal dispersal from Sicily to the Maltese Islands via land bridges.
Once sea levels rose again, these animals were effectively trapped on the islands and left to evolve in isolation.
Among the most famous finds are elephants, hippopotami, swans, deer, dormice and various carnivores such as bears, wolves and foxes which are now extinct from the islands.
Many of the fossils display a fascinating phenomenon of evolution called the ‘Island Rule’, whereby large herbivores grow smaller and small animals grow larger due to the special conditions of small islands.
In the topmost layer of the site (the ‘Cultural’ layer), Għar Dalam also holds evidence of early Neolithic humans, who brought the first domestic animals from Sicily to the islands during the succeeding Holocene era.
By this time, many of the Ice Age animals had already gone extinct, possibly due to climate change.
Besides being the ideal site to engage visitors with Malta’s archaeological and ecological history, Għar Dalam is also renowned for its current ecological value.
Indigenous flora is planted and maintained throughout its gardens, which are open for visitors to enjoy alongside stunning views of the Wied Dalam valley.
The site forms part of the Natura 2000 network of protected sites, which includes Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) of international importance and Special Protection Areas (SPA).
This conservation status is due to the cave also being home to a small population of endemic cave woodlouse, Armadillidium ghardalamensis, and a roosting site for the Lesser Horse-shoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros.
FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON SITE
Audio Guides
Languages:
MT, EN, DE, IT, EL, ES, FR, CN/ZH, JA, PL
Food & Drinks
Gift Shop
Indoor / Outdoor Seating Area
Lockers
Nappy Changing Facility
Parking Bays
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Museum,
Archaeological Remains,
Site
Click link below for opening hours:
21657419
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum,
Birżebbuġa,
Malta
Għar Dalam and Borg in-Nadur Combo Ticket.
Adults (18+):
€6.50
Youths (12-17):
€5.00
Senior Citizens (60+):
€5.00
Concessions & Students:
€5.00
Children (6-11):
€4.00
Infants (1-5):
Free
Heritage Malta Members:
FREE
Heritage Malta Passport Holders:
FREE
Book now
Opening Hours
This site meets the following accessibility requirements:
Fully Accessible Toilets
Parking Bays for Disabled
Parking Bays for Disabled
Where the site permits, designated blue badge parking bays are available on a first-come basis.
Gift Shop
Lockers
Nappy Changing Facilities
Parking Bays
Parking Bays
Parking is available close to the site.
Indoor / Outdoor Seating Area
Food and Drinks Available
Autism Friendly
Autism Friendly
Museum / site has designated quiet spaces.
Wednesdays from 1pm to 4 pm at the National Museum of Archaeology.
Tuesdays from 1pm to 4pm at the National Museum of Natural History.
National Museum of Archaeology Sensory Map
National Museum of Archaeology Social Story
National Museum of Natural History Sensory Map
National Museum of Natural History Social Story
Audio Guides
Audio Guides
Audio guides are available in a number of languages.
Please check the site you will visit for the languages available.
For each site / museum, the list of available languages can be found under the icon, at the end of the page.
Unattended Children's Room
Unattended Children's Room
The museum / site does not offer child minding services. In the Children’s room the child must be accompanied by an adult.
Partial Accessibility
Partial Accessibility
Some areas of the museum / site cannot be fully accessed by persons with mobility impairment.
Access Statement
Interested in experiencing this site aided by a guided tour from one of talented tour guides?
Request A Guided Tour
Gallery
Old Museum Showcase
Virtual Experience
Virtual Experience
Getting Here
Address
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum,
Għar Dalam Road,
Birżebbuġa,
Malta
Get Directions
Public Transport
The closest bus stop is 1 minute on foot. Interested in getting here by public transport?
Plan your journey
Request A Guided Tour
Thank you for your interest. Please complete the form below and we’ll look to get back to you as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQs
Answers to the most common questions
Għar Dalam is 144m long but only the first 50m are open to the public.
The cave contains the bone remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became extinct in Malta at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. It has lent its name to the Għar Dalam phase in Maltese prehistory, and is viewed as one of Malta’s most important national monuments. Significant pottery make the site the earliest evidence of human settlement in Malta, some 7,400 years ago.
The inner parts of the cave are difficult and can be dangerous to visit because the ceiling is low and the ground is slippery. Furthermore a very rare species of endemic woodlouse lives in the dark areas of the cave and the whole site is protected to ensure survival of this species.
The bones were collected from the cave when it was being excavated. The complete skeletons in the same hall were placed there for comparison.
Featured Museums & Sites
Villa Frere
National Museum of Natural History
Ħal Tarxien Prehistoric Complex
Bidnija Olive Grove
Skip to content
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Malta’s oldest prehistoric site of Għar Dalam engages visitors to take a journey to a time before human habitation, when animals such as elephants, hippopotami, and red deer roamed the pristine wilderness of the Ice Age.
No such animals have lived on the Maltese Islands for thousands of years.
Rows of ancient animal bones, unearthed from Għar Dalam cave, are exhibited in the Joseph Baldacchino Hall, which still retains one of a handful of Victorian-style displays in Europe.
The George Zammit Maempel Hall presents the historical aspects of the cave in a more didactic manner, as well as detailed displays on the various species discovered in Malta’s Pleistocene (‘Ice Age’) deposits. Even more Pleistocene animal fossils are still visible inside the cave.
A series of archaeological excavations held in the cave in the latter half of the 19th century revealed an extensive amount of animal bones, the earliest of which were deposited over 160,000 years ago.
Due to the climatic fluctuations of the Ice Age, sea levels dropped in the Mediterranean, facilitating animal dispersal from Sicily to the Maltese Islands via land bridges.
Once sea levels rose again, these animals were effectively trapped on the islands and left to evolve in isolation.
Among the most famous finds are elephants, hippopotami, swans, deer, dormice and various carnivores such as bears, wolves and foxes which are now extinct from the islands.
Many of the fossils display a fascinating phenomenon of evolution called the ‘Island Rule’, whereby large herbivores grow smaller and small animals grow larger due to the special conditions of small islands.
In the topmost layer of the site (the ‘Cultural’ layer), Għar Dalam also holds evidence of early Neolithic humans, who brought the first domestic animals from Sicily to the islands during the succeeding Holocene era.
By this time, many of the Ice Age animals had already gone extinct, possibly due to climate change.
Besides being the ideal site to engage visitors with Malta’s archaeological and ecological history, Għar Dalam is also renowned for its current ecological value.
Indigenous flora is planted and maintained throughout its gardens, which are open for visitors to enjoy alongside stunning views of the Wied Dalam valley.
The site forms part of the Natura 2000 network of protected sites, which includes Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) of international importance and Special Protection Areas (SPA).
This conservation status is due to the cave also being home to a small population of endemic cave woodlouse, Armadillidium ghardalamensis, and a roosting site for the Lesser Horse-shoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros.
FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON SITE
Audio Guides
Languages:
MT, EN, DE, IT, EL, ES, FR, CN/ZH, JA, PL
Food & Drinks
Gift Shop
Indoor / Outdoor Seating Area
Lockers
Nappy Changing Facility
Parking Bays
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum
Museum,
Archaeological Remains,
Site
Click link below for opening hours:
21657419
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum,
Birżebbuġa,
Malta
Għar Dalam and Borg in-Nadur Combo Ticket.
Adults (18+):
€6.50
Youths (12-17):
€5.00
Senior Citizens (60+):
€5.00
Concessions & Students:
€5.00
Children (6-11):
€4.00
Infants (1-5):
Free
Heritage Malta Members:
FREE
Heritage Malta Passport Holders:
FREE
Book now
Opening Hours
This site meets the following accessibility requirements:
Fully Accessible Toilets
Parking Bays for Disabled
Parking Bays for Disabled
Where the site permits, designated blue badge parking bays are available on a first-come basis.
Gift Shop
Lockers
Nappy Changing Facilities
Parking Bays
Parking Bays
Parking is available close to the site.
Indoor / Outdoor Seating Area
Food and Drinks Available
Autism Friendly
Autism Friendly
Museum / site has designated quiet spaces.
Wednesdays from 1pm to 4 pm at the National Museum of Archaeology.
Tuesdays from 1pm to 4pm at the National Museum of Natural History.
National Museum of Archaeology Sensory Map
National Museum of Archaeology Social Story
National Museum of Natural History Sensory Map
National Museum of Natural History Social Story
Audio Guides
Audio Guides
Audio guides are available in a number of languages.
Please check the site you will visit for the languages available.
For each site / museum, the list of available languages can be found under the icon, at the end of the page.
Unattended Children's Room
Unattended Children's Room
The museum / site does not offer child minding services. In the Children’s room the child must be accompanied by an adult.
Partial Accessibility
Partial Accessibility
Some areas of the museum / site cannot be fully accessed by persons with mobility impairment.
Access Statement
Interested in experiencing this site aided by a guided tour from one of talented tour guides?
Request A Guided Tour
Gallery
Old Museum Showcase
Virtual Experience
Virtual Experience
Getting Here
Address
Għar Dalam Cave and Museum,
Għar Dalam Road,
Birżebbuġa,
Malta
Get Directions
Public Transport
The closest bus stop is 1 minute on foot. Interested in getting here by public transport?
Plan your journey
Request A Guided Tour
Thank you for your interest. Please complete the form below and we’ll look to get back to you as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQs
Answers to the most common questions
Għar Dalam is 144m long but only the first 50m are open to the public.
The cave contains the bone remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became extinct in Malta at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. It has lent its name to the Għar Dalam phase in Maltese prehistory, and is viewed as one of Malta’s most important national monuments. Significant pottery make the site the earliest evidence of human settlement in Malta, some 7,400 years ago.
The inner parts of the cave are difficult and can be dangerous to visit because the ceiling is low and the ground is slippery. Furthermore a very rare species of endemic woodlouse lives in the dark areas of the cave and the whole site is protected to ensure survival of this species.
The bones were collected from the cave when it was being excavated. The complete skeletons in the same hall were placed there for comparison.
Featured Museums & Sites
Villa Frere
National Museum of Natural History
Ħal Tarxien Prehistoric Complex
Bidnija Olive Grove
Skip to content