By the end of the 20th century the Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples were in danger of collapse: vibrations from nearby quarries, limited tourism planning, and vandalism were taking a heavy toll on the structures. In addition, the individual stones were thinning and cracking due to water infiltration and the salty atmosphere. (...)
By the end of the 20th century the Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples were in danger of collapse: vibrations from nearby quarries, limited tourism planning, and vandalism were taking a heavy toll on the structures. In addition, the individual stones were thinning and cracking due to water infiltration and the salty atmosphere. Citing the need for sustained commitment to conservation at the site, the temples were included on the 1998, 2000, and 2002 Watch lists. Preservation organizations, including UNESCO, convened in the aftermath of the 1998 listing to discuss the problems and emphasized the need for conservation work at the sites. Unfortunately, in 2001, a group of vandals overturned more than 60 of the temples’ monumental slabs and carved their own symbols into the stones. In response, the Maltese government hired guards, installed lighting, and erected a protective fence around the archaeological park. Malta also revised its cultural heritage laws to improve protection of its monuments. WMF secured a grant for the repair of the temples at Mnajdra and they now appear as they did before the attack.
