How can I reach this plateau?

You can reach Għajn Abdul Plateau by proceeding along the road past Kempinski Hotel in San Lawrenz, or otherwise by approaching via the hamlet of Santa Luċija.  When you arrive at the Għajn Abdul spring, then you will find a narrow path leading to the caves.

What is so special about these caves?

In fact, it is one huge overhanging shelter hewn naturally on the side of the flat hill and separated into two large caves by a natural pillar and a man-made wall.  From these caves, one can enjoy spectacular Gozo countryside scenery and views of Fungus Rock, Dwejra Tower, Ta’ Ġordan Lighthouse, and the villages of Għarb and San Lawrenz.

Were these caves ever inhabited?

The south cave is known to have been inhabited till as late as the 1950s and one can see that it was well equipped with bedrooms, stone benches, a stone hearth sunk in the floor and stone troughs.  Access to the cave was through a regular door in the wall screening it from the outer elements.  The earliest known inhabitants are from the Neolithic period, stretching back some 7000 years to what is known as the Għar Dalam phase.  As far we know, these caves represent the first human settlement in Gozo.

Where did the first settlers come from?

The exact origin of the Early Neolithic Maltese is uncertain, but archaeological remains suggest that the first settlers on the Maltese Islands came from nearby Sicily towards the end of the fifth millennium BC.  This period also coincided with the improvement of climatic conditions following a minor Ice Age; the cold and dry atmospheric conditions of the latter period were replaced by a warmer and wetter climate, which permitted the cultivation of crops.  These immigrants crossed from Sicily.

Was Gozo settled before Malta?

Pottery from Għajn Abdul exhibited purer Stentinello attributes (Stentinello was a middle Neolithic Sicilian culture) than pottery found elsewhere on the Maltese islands, possibly indicating that Gozo was settled first.  This Early Neolithic impressed ware pottery was replaced in subsequent years by a rather dull undecorated pottery of greyish hue (Grey Skorba Phase circa 6500-6400 BP), which eventually was refined by the addition of a red coating (Red Skorba Phase circa 6400-6100 BP).

Two of the caves at Għajn Abdul also yielded pottery sherds from the subsequent Bronze age.

It is a shame that some other caves in the vicinity were destroyed by quarrying activity.  It is also unfortunate that unauthorised excavations have taken place in the past, which had unearthed pottery sherds from the Għar Dalam phase.

The pottery deposited with the Museum Department, which was retrieved without competent supervision, does not seem to have been discovered inside the south cave as there seemed to be no recent disturbances on its floor, whereas that of the north cave appeared disturbed in various spots.

What does Mixta and Għajn Abdul mean?

The word ‘Mixta’ is derived from the Maltese word ‘Mxett‘, meaning ‘a place where one shelters in winter together with the cattle’.

Għajn Abdul literally means Abdul’s Spring.  According to legend, Abdul was a Turkish captain who was caught by the Gozitans and who was sentenced to die of thirst and hunger.  He was thrown into a pit where he scratched the soil until water gushed out.  Abdul was so thirsty that he drank and drank until his stomach burst and he died.  Abdul had found a new spring which was named after him and is still there to this very day.