Photo credit: Jean-Christophe Benoist
The Ghar Dalam Cave, one kilometre north of Birżebbuġa, housed evidence of the earliest human occupation of the Maltese Islands which dates back approximately 7,400 years. Remains of earlier Ice Age animals have also been excavated and presented in the nearby museum. The cave had an important role in World War II, when it was used first as an air-raid shelter before being used as a fuel depot.