The megalithic temple complex of Tarxien was constructed at the height of Malta's late neolithic period, on a site that was used over a span of several millennia. The site appears to have first been used as early as 4100BC. The megalithic character of the site emerged as early as 3600BC, reaching a highly complex layout by about 3000BC. The Tarxien temples are, therefore, an important source of information. Their value lies in the wealth of relics and traces of the past that have been transmitted down to our generation.