 In
the village of Zurrieq, one will find various archaeological remains
dating back from various periods. One of these early findings was
discovered in 1885, in the land known as " ta' Danieri "
limits of "tal-Hlewwa" . In this location Phoenician tombs
were discovered containing the remains of three human skeletons
and some pottery. On the 1st of August, 1911 another tomb was found
in the fields known as "tal-Gharghariet" limits of Nigret.
In the area known as "tal-Bakkari" ruins were unearthed
of a chapel, built on even older remains of what is thought to be
a Roman temple. One should mention that in the same site, in 1921,
pottery dating back to either Punic or Roman times was found in
an underground cistern just under the ruins of the same chapel.
Some relics were thought to be even of a former period, namely the
bronze age. This would indicate that the same sight was used through
the ages various peoples, though always for a spiritual purpose.
One should also mention that a couple of metres from this sight,
one will find the ruins of one of the towers which is referred to
as 'Torri tal-Bakkari', which was constructed out of the
same type and size of stone as those found in the chapel's ruins.
On the 6th of September, 1920, this tower was identified and compared
with the ruins of two other towers partially standing and in a better
preserved condition. The other two towers are known as 'tat-Torrijiet'
and 'tal-Gawhar' situated in the areas known as 'ta' Wilga'
and 'tal-Hlantun' respectively. There are still contestations to
their exact period, yet features may lead one to associate the towers
to Bronze or Punic times. All three towers are of a perfect round
shape and made of the same type of large stones, typically used
long before Roman time, which is the period given by some. This
may be determined from near investigation on the site of 'tal-Gawhar',
were various features in the stone can be observed, such as altar
shapes, holes to contain liquid like those used for sacrifice of
blood, and other holes which could be used to tie up animals near
the same altar .
In August, 1926 a tomb was discovered near the Xarolla Windmill,
and from further investigations done on the 6th of the same month,
it was determined that the tomb had already been touched and relics
taken away, but there were still some pottery dating back to 200
A.D. Today these Paleo-Christian tombs are being excavated to
their full extent after adjacent tombs were discovered in 1995,
which now indicates a burial area of a larger size which could
only belong to a large settlement in the area. In these tombs,
one may find very interesting architectural features rarely found
in similar tombs on the island. 
The size of the area containing the tombs indicate that in the
area, there has always been a considerably large community, a
settlement marking the area in time. There is the possibility
that a Roman road passes through the area which would link the
settlement in a both to northwest and the south of the island.
The same road may date even prior to Roman settlement and
there are indications that the Halfar Dolmen, the towers at tal-Bakkari
and tat-Toirrijiet, the catacombs at tax-Xarolla, Hal Millieri
and il-Mentna at Mqabba, are all on a perfect line.
On the 15th of March, 1930 a tomb was excavated containing human
bones and roman pottery dating to the VII century B.C.. On the
3rd of September, 1935 in a field known as 'Ta' Farrat', near
the Xarolla Windmill, a tomb was found dating to the periods of
the Carthaginians and Phoenicians, containing as well Roman pottery
remains. On the 13th of June, 1930, a Roman tomb was uncovered
in Hal Far in the area known as tal-Bakkari, another on the 4th
of July, 1956, and another on the 5th of March, 1956, which were
all excavated down in the rock and found containing Roman pottery
of the third period.
On the 13th of July, 1938, Dun Gwann Farrugia asked the Museums
authority to look into a building found in the gardens of the
archpriest of Zurrieq. One will find reference to these remains
in the book by J. Houel, 'Voyage Pittoresque de Sicile, Malte
et Lipari'. He claims that these remains date back to the Greek
period. Unfortunately today only a small tower belonging to a
larger building remains, known due to the actual dating of the
same tower, as the Punic Tower. This tower is of great
interest for the fact that punic remains on the island a scarce.
The structure of the tower is made of stone cut in large perfectly
square blocks and put together with great precision with the use
of round dowels (mincotti ) to hold the same blocks in
place.
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