Tarxien Cemetery phase

The transition from the Tarxien phase to the Tarxien Cemetery culture (2500-1500 BCE) is theorized to have begun circa 2000 BCE. All traces of Malta's temple builders were lost around 1800 BCE. The Tarxien Cemetery culture evolved into the Borġ in-Nadur phase (1400-800 BCE).

Cemetery Culture Overview
This phase is named after the graves built by new Bronze Age inhabitants on the site of the Tarxien Temples. This new culture is typified by the use of metal implements and the construction dolmens and eventually, rock-cut tombs. Tarxien Cemetery Ware is pebble-burnished and angular in shape, decoration is by incision. Stylized clay figures and awls were also discovered. English archaeologist John Evans documented affinities between the Taxien Cemetery material culture and the Castelluccio culture of southeastern Sicily. Burials at this time are, for the most part, inurned cremations; urns have been excavated accompanied by flat axes, bronze daggers and other grave-goods.