Punic Building, Żurrieq

The remains of an unidentified Punic building exist incorporated into several properties in Żurrieq, Malta [1]. They include a well-preserved structure commonly known as the Punic Tower or the Żurrieq Tower which is found inside the private garden of the Domus Curialis, the house of the town's archpriest [1]. The site consists of a well-preserved 5.6 m-high tower with a square plan topped by a cavetto cornice showing inspiration from ancient Egyptian architecture, along with some adjacent walls which are believed to have originally formed part of a larger building [1]. Both the tower and the walls are constructed out of ashlar limestone masonry without mortar, with each block having dimensions of up to 66 cm × 180 cm [1]. The building's age and purpose are not known, but it might date back to around the late 6th century BC [1]. The building is not believed to have been a defensive tower [1]. The building's existence was first recorded by Bishop Miguel Jerónimo de Molina in 1680 [1].