Cart ruts are long, parallel grooves cut into rock—most famously found in Malta, but also in a few other places around the Mediterranean. They are one of the region’s most puzzling archaeological features.
How many cart ruts are there in the Maltese Isalnds
There are over 700 in Malta and over 40 in Gozo according to the latest inventoryWhat cart ruts are
Cart ruts are:
Parallel channels carved into bedrock, usually 8–15 cm deep.
Spaced roughly the same as wheel tracks (about 1.4 m apart on average).
Found in networks that sometimes intersect, split, or even run off cliffs or into the sea.
The Maltese term is "ħnieq".
Where they are found
Malta & Gozo (most extensive and best-preserved examples)
Sicily
Sardinia
Minor examples in Spain & Greece
Malta has hundreds of sites, with the most famous being Clapham Junction and Misraħ Għar il-Kbir.
How old they are
Their exact age is unknown, but most scholars believe they date from the Bronze Age or possibly the classical / Punic period.
They are not from the Neolithic temple builders.
What they were used for (theories)
Archaeologists have several interpretations:
The most widely accepted theory:
Heavy loads (stone blocks, agricultural goods, etc.) were dragged or rolled, wearing grooves into the soft limestone.
Sledges may be more likely than wheeled carts, because many ruts are too deep or uneven for wooden wheels.
Some ruts could have been used to direct rainwater across terraced landscapes.
In areas near ancient quarries, ruts may be related to moving stone blocks.
A minority theory: some ruts might have held symbolic or ritual significance, but there is little evidence.
Why they are mysterious
Cart ruts show puzzling features:
They branch like railway tracks.
Some run straight into the sea, now submerged—implying either:
Sea level was lower when they were made, or
land subsidence occurred.
Depths vary, sometimes reaching 70+ cm, which would be impractical for a wheeled vehicle.