An extraordinary scientific investigation has revealed how Sicily and Malta were once connected by a vast landscape that disappeared beneath the Mediterranean Sea thousands of years ago, offering fascinating new insights into Europe's prehistoric geography.
Approximately 22,000 years ago, during the Last Glacial Maximum, sea levels were around 130 meters lower than today. The resulting land bridge connected southeastern Sicily with Malta and Gozo, which are now separated by more than 90 kilometers of water.
Italian researchers from the National Research Council's Institute of Marine Sciences and the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, working alongside the University of Malta, reconstructed this ancient environment through the BRIDGES scientific expedition.
Using advanced sonar technology, high-resolution seismic surveys, and sediment samples collected aboard the Italian research vessel Gaia Blu, scientists identified submerged geological formations, including valleys, elevated terrain, lagoons, and ancient coastal features.
Their findings suggest that the area was far more than a simple passageway. It represented a diverse environment potentially supporting wildlife and providing natural migration routes during the Ice Age.
As temperatures increased and glaciers melted, rising waters gradually submerged the connection, which disappeared approximately 13,000 years ago.
The research also raises intriguing archaeological questions. Evidence indicates that hunter-gatherers reached Malta around 8,500 years ago, long after the land bridge vanished, suggesting that prehistoric maritime travel played an important role.
This international scientific achievement highlights Italian excellence in marine research, underwater exploration, and the reconstruction of Mediterranean history, revealing how dramatically the region's geography has evolved over thousands of years.
