Joseph Baldacchino
Encyclopedia
Joseph G. Baldacchino was a Maltese
archaeologist. He was born in Siġġiewi
and spent his early childhood at that locality until 1901 when his family moved to Tarxien. In 1909, the family moved to Qormi where he studied medicine graduating as Medical Doctor in 1919.
Although he worked as a General Practitioner for over a decade, by 1930 he was showing a deep interest in Paleontology. He was appointed Curator of Natural History within the Malta Museum Department in 1933. He continued work on the Għar Dalam Museum and excavated the cave at this site. His hypothesis formulated at this time, that the cave was originally an underground cavern divided by an ancient river is still considered as valid today.
After the war he was appointed Director of the Museum Department in 1947. Under his directorship the department toiled to bring out material stored during the War years and display it once again. A number of restoration and excavation campaigns were conducted at Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra
and Tarxien Temples
while material uncovered following serendipitous discoveries was published.
Baldacchino retired from the Museum Department in 1955 and for a number of years worked at the University of Malta
. He died on 6 July 1974 and was buried at the Addolorata Cemetery.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
archaeologist. He was born in Siġġiewi
Siggiewi
Siġġiewi is a village and a local council in the southwestern part of Malta. It is situated on a plateau, a few kilometres away from Mdina, the ancient capital city of Malta, and 10 kilometres away from Valletta, the contemporary capital...
and spent his early childhood at that locality until 1901 when his family moved to Tarxien. In 1909, the family moved to Qormi where he studied medicine graduating as Medical Doctor in 1919.
Although he worked as a General Practitioner for over a decade, by 1930 he was showing a deep interest in Paleontology. He was appointed Curator of Natural History within the Malta Museum Department in 1933. He continued work on the Għar Dalam Museum and excavated the cave at this site. His hypothesis formulated at this time, that the cave was originally an underground cavern divided by an ancient river is still considered as valid today.
After the war he was appointed Director of the Museum Department in 1947. Under his directorship the department toiled to bring out material stored during the War years and display it once again. A number of restoration and excavation campaigns were conducted at Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra
Mnajdra
Mnajdra is a megalithic temple complex found on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island of Malta. Mnajdra is approximately 500 metres from the Ħaġar Qim megalithic complex...
and Tarxien Temples
Tarxien Temples
The Tarxien Temples are an archaeological complex in Tarxien, Malta. They date back to approximately 2800 BC. The site was accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 along with the other Megalithic temples on the island of Malta.-Description:...
while material uncovered following serendipitous discoveries was published.
Baldacchino retired from the Museum Department in 1955 and for a number of years worked at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
. He died on 6 July 1974 and was buried at the Addolorata Cemetery.
External links
- http://www.cittapinto.com/persunaggitobba.htm