Environmental Chronology: Early Holocene & First Human Settlement (ca. 5200 BCE)

The Early Holocene & First Human Settlement of the Maltese Islands (ca. 5200 BCE) was a transformative period that marks the arrival of humans and the beginning of significant ecological change after thousands of years of relatively stable, post-glacial natural development.

---

Period Context: The Early Holocene

Phase	Dates	Key Features
Early Holocene Climate	~11,700 BCE–6000 BCE	Stable post-glacial warming, sea level rise, vegetation spread
First Human Arrival	ca. 5200 BCE	Neolithic settlers from Sicily (Stentinello culture) introduce farming
Għar Dalam Phase	ca. 5200–4500 BCE	Earliest cultural phase in Malta, named after the cave where evidence was found

---

Pre-Human Natural Environment (Before 5200 BCE)

Climate & Geography

• Mild Mediterranean climate (warmer and wetter than today).
  
• Sea levels rising after the Last Glacial Maximum (~120 meters lower in 20,000 BCE).
  
• Maltese islands had already become isolated from Sicily by about 10,000–9000 BCE.
  

Flora

• Pollen records suggest:
  
  • Mixed woodlands: Holm oak (Quercus ilex), Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), carob, wild olive, lentisk.
    
  • Maquis and garigue vegetation common on ridges and shallow soils.
    

Fauna

• Native species prior to humans:
  
  • Dwarf elephants (Palaeoloxodon mnaidriensis) and hippos (extinct ~10,000 BCE).
    
  • Small mammals: shrews, dormice.
    
  • Migratory birds, reptiles, amphibians.
    
  • No large predators or herbivores remaining after the Pleistocene.
    

Conclusion:

Malta was a relatively wild, wooded, and biodiverse archipelago with no significant large mammals at the time of first human contact.

---

First Human Arrival: Neolithic Colonists (~5200 BCE)

Origin & Culture

• Settlers came from Sicily, likely part of the Stentinello culture.
  
• Brought:
  
  • Farming knowledge
    
  • Domesticated plants and animals
    
  • Pottery and stone tools
    

Key Site: Għar Dalam Cave

• Contains the earliest layers of Neolithic human activity.
  
• Stratigraphy includes layers of:
  
  • Animal bones (e.g., deer, birds)
    
  • Charcoal (evidence of fire)
    
  • Pottery shards and flint tools
    

---

Deforestation and Vegetation Change

Initial Impact

• Settlers began clearing forest for:
  
  • Small-scale farming
    
  • Settlements
    
  • Fuel (cooking, heating, pottery firing)
    
• Pollen records from cores at Marsaxlokk, Burmarrad, and Buskett show:
  
  • Rapid decline in arboreal pollen (oak, pine)
    
  • Increase in herbaceous species and cereals (wheat, barley)
    
  • Charcoal particles – evidence of deliberate burning
    

Garigue Expansion

• As forests were cleared, garigue and steppe vegetation spread.
  
• This secondary vegetation became dominant in areas with shallow soils.
  

Conclusion:

The Neolithic settlement initiated Malta’s first major wave of deforestation, a trend that would continue for millennia.

---

Early Agriculture and Land Use

Farming Introduction

• Cultivated plants:
  
  • Cereals (wheat, barley)
    
  • Legumes (lentils, peas)
    
  • Possibly flax for textiles
    
• Domesticated animals:
  
  • Sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle
    
  • Brought over by boat from Sicily
    

Land Use Patterns

• Farming was likely slash-and-burn on small clearings near freshwater sources.
  
• Early fields may have been in Burmarrad Valley, Wied Żembaq, or Marsaxlokk, where soils are deeper.
  

Impact:

• Soil degradation began early due to overuse of shallow soils.
  
• Grazing pressure from goats likely suppressed woodland regrowth.
  

---

Water Use and Settlement Location

• No rivers or lakes meant reliance on:
  
  • Natural springs (e.g., near Buskett and Rabat)
    
  • Rainwater catchment in natural rock basins
    
• Early settlers likely chose lowland valleys near water sources and arable land.
  

Settlement Pattern

• Small, dispersed hamlets or caves.
  
• Early dwellings possibly made from organic materials (no surviving structures from this phase).
  

---

Biodiversity and Faunal Impact

• Rapid decline in wild species post-settlement:
  
  • Overhunting of birds and small mammals
    
  • Habitat loss from clearing and grazing
    
• Introduction of invasive species (e.g. rats, dogs, possibly rabbits) through human transport.
  

Extinct or Vanished Species:

• Several native birds and mammals disappeared from the fossil record by the end of the Neolithic.
  

---

Fire as a Land-Management Tool

• Charcoal layers in Għar Dalam and other sediment cores indicate:
  
  • Use of fire for land clearing
    
  • Possibly seasonal burning to promote pasture
    

Environmental Consequences:

• Altered soil chemistry
  
• Increased erosion from slope burn-off
  
• More fire-adapted species like thyme and fennel became common
  

---

Key Site: Għar Dalam Cave

Layer	Contents
Upper layers (Neolithic)	Pottery, charcoal, flint tools, animal bones
Middle layers	Fossil bones of red deer, birds, turtles
Lower layers	Dwarf elephant and hippopotamus fossils (extinct before human arrival)

This cave provides a continuous record from the late Pleistocene to early Holocene and is the key stratigraphic archive for Malta’s prehistoric ecology.

---

Summary Table: Environmental Transformation (ca. 5200 BCE Onward)

Aspect	Impact
Vegetation	Rapid forest loss, shift to garigue and agricultural fields
Agriculture	Introduced crops and livestock transformed land use
Water use	Minimal infrastructure, reliant on springs and rainfall
Biodiversity	Decline of native species; invasive species introduced
Fire use	Regular burning for land clearing and possibly pasture
Settlement	Small-scale, near valleys and water sources

---

Legacy of the First Human Settlement

Enduring Contributions:

• First use of Malta as a managed, human-altered landscape.
  
• Introduction of staple crops and domesticated animals still present today.
  

Lasting Environmental Costs:

• First wave of deforestation and species extinction.
  
• Set the ecological stage for later pressure from the Temple Builders.