Clapham Junction Cart Ruts

Spread all over the tiny Maltese Archipelago are unexplained grooves in the bedrock. These ruts (or “tracks” as they are often known) are heavily weathered and some examples have been found under the sea, just off the coast, or ending abruptly at cliff edges, thus suggesting a prehistoric origin. They are totally unique and nothing like them can be found anywhere else.

There are many theories on the original purpose of these human-made structures. Perhaps it was an ancient irrigation system or a way of marking ceremonial routes, although the most likely explanation is that the tracks are the result of sledgecarts being dragged over the same route for hundreds of years, creating the deep grooves that are seen today.

Whatever their purpose, they are a fascinating, yet puzzling sight to behold. The best example can be found at Clapham Junction on the south of the island. The site was given its name because the complex pattern of ruts was supposed to resemble the railway tracks at Clapham Junction railway station in London, England.