Malta – Metageum Conference Critique

Critique (04/01/08)

When I arrived at the Caraffa Stores, after a slight wild goose chase with regards to where I was supposed to be deposited after taxi pick-up from the Airport, I have to say I was, quite frankly, surprised that, at the Caraffa Stores, nothing was happening as I popped my head around the open green door to announce my presence to Peter the principal conference organiser.

I’d met Peter twice already in the UK and had shared two memorable meals with him – the chance to explore another’s conception of their universe and their diverse interests was welcomed. 

Caraffa Stores was built during the era of the crusades; their notable fortifications around strategically placed settlements are as apparent and highly visible today as they were then.

Not many people visit the Magalithic sites without a set of predefined ‘interpretive guidelines’.  I remember a speaker saying that, actually, as far as he was concerned, all interpretations were as relevant and important as the next, and none had greater weight than any other – it is a shame there are not more people around with this attitude; it would make the world of ‘interpreting the evidence’ a better place to visit.

The conference organisation was at odds with what I as a researcher would expect: Abysmal – disorganised chaos; nothing having been done, and completed at the very last minute; a disappointment.  Things that could have been sourced much cheaper nearer to ‘home’ (the conference) were outsourced as far away as Gozo Island, which all of us who know the islands or have visited Malta know is north of Malta – and a fair bus ride to the ferry terminal. 

Now, as an archaeologist there are certain levels or organisation that is taken for granted, and since some of us organise our own conferences and many of us wish to present our papers and presentations for other people’s conferences, we expect a basic level of organisational skill. Not so at Caraffa Stores. Evidence to the contrary suggested that the conference might thenceforth, be a flop. 

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel: For those of you believe in half-miracles (the complete ones are just too rare) somehow it came together.  It would have consolidated far better however if a number of things had been established well before the event, weeks, months even.  But then, one must expect delays for getting a project such as this off the ground.  Suffice to say, the lack of organisation was in evidence, acutely so.  

The presenters all had plenty of time to give their presentations, however, myself included, but the time allocated for each of the talks was far too long; academically speaking us scholars have always known a 20 minute presentation is far better than an hour – the time would have been better spent ensuring that the tours to the megalithic sites that did happen, did not clash with the talks taking place at the same time.  Talks clashed every day, and the presenters were sometimes unable to go on a tour because they were speaking at the time the tour was scheduled to depart - conversely, those who had wanted to attend a tour had to miss a presentation. 

And so it continued….then there was the small issue of the costs of the lunches and whether we could get them on time before the tour left the stores….then there was the slight issue of how long the days were from 09:00 am to 21:00 pm, sometimes longer….then there was the slight issue of those amongst our midst who had limited finances that were quite frankly unable to stretch to the cost of three meals a day and the most expensive one being the suppertime one (6-10 Liras per person at the more expensive eateries). 

The Conference was a non-event for several people I spoke to whilst there; their comments ranged from fair to really bad.  Several people I knew would have liked to have attended the conference but it was too expensive for them; locals need not apply unless they had spare cash available, was one comment.  Moreover, there were one or two overseas visitors to Malta who complained that although they had paid for all the projected site tours they had to pay again for same, when they arrived at the conference.

But then there was one redeeming quality – the generosity and warmth that people of different skills and experience manifested, after been thrown together to make things happen; an uncertain chaotic and cyclic mix where monumental build requires momentous struggle, a good strong organisational infrastructure and a good team to implement it. 

It has to be said, for the principal organiser and co-ordinator the cost of hosting a first event of this magnitude includes considerable risk and expertise - and serious financial outlay.  I have to say that I believe the conference had its successes it also had its failures too; and I console myself by saying that the conference happened against the odds and as such, the attempt should be lauded as a platform to build upon for the next Metageum Conference.  The only other thing to add is that a new conference might be best placed elsewhere on the Islands, occupying a more central place where more people are able to attend, and where the costs are not almost prohibitive to attend, or even in another EU country.

The Paradox That Is The Maltese Archipelago

Malta in contemporary times remains a paradox in many ways; a heavily patriarchal and catholicised society on the one hand, and on the other, incursions from time to time of feminine energy in the form of the Madonna, or Mother and Child; the ‘Mother’ being Mary and the child being ‘Jesus’.  Like everywhere, the age old battle of the sexes continues.

Followers of New Age philosophies who come to visit the megalithic sites each year each come with their own set of guidelines and ideas, more often than not, bias, that sees sadly, the compartmentalisation of opinion.  Data gathered by visitors to the megalithic sites is interpreted in many different ways, just as the Bible, the Qur’an or both of the Talmud’s, the Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud is interpreted.  Errors along the way account for much misinterpretation, and hence the last two to three centuries right up into modern times has seen many versions of the aforementioned religious works.  Goddess worship is considered here to be just another belief; and between all of them they contribute to the variation we see today.

Whilst I was in Malta people I spoke to, (not locals I hasten to add; people from other countries) were proud to say that they worshipped the Goddess (a remnant of an imaginal mythical time where women were as equal as men, or better perhaps?).  I saw no evidence during observation of the equality of the sexes in contemporary times whilst staying in Malta, but I wasn’t looking for it, since one of my principal reasons for being there was the Metageum Conference; the other was the Megalithic architecture as I’d never been to Malta before and a rare opportunity presented itself to me to visit some of the sites, but not as many as I would have like – Maltese prehistory deserves a second visit.

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