61 Years of Archaeology in Gozo (1954-2015: The Personal Experiences of Dr David H. Trump (1931-2016)

Daniel Cilia

In this illustrated talk, renowned Gozitan photographer Daniel Cilia reflects on the life and work of Dr David H. Trump (1931-2016), a British archaeologist who devoted more than six decades to the study of Maltese and Gozitan prehistory. From his first visit in 1954 at Ġgantija, through his curatorship at the National Museum of Malta (1958-63), and his excavations at Skorba and the Xagħra Circle, Trump shaped the understanding of Malta and Gozo’s ancient past. Regularly returning to the islands to lecture, publish, and guide students, his legacy endures, honoured nationally with the Order of Merit in 2004.

Drawing on his own collaboration and friendship with Trump, Gozitan photographer Daniel Cilia offers a personal perspective on the archaeologist’s enduring bond with Gozo. From shared fieldwork documenting cart-ruts and temple sites, to lively debates over publications, Cilia recalls a mentor whose enthusiasm for pottery, temples and prehistory was matched only by his generosity and openness to new ideas. For Trump, Gozo’s past was never a closed chapter but a living puzzle, one he pursued with rigour, humour and dedication until his final years. This talk is both a tribute and a celebration of a scholar who made Gozo’s heritage profoundly his own.

Born in Victoria, Gozo, Daniel Cilia lLRPS began photography at 13 and held his first major exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, in 1986, the year he became a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society. After leaving nursing, he moved to Florence in 1988, later lecturing in Oslo and heading the Photographic Department at Lorenzo de Medici (1990–1995). He has since produced over 160 books, winning multiple National Book Council awards, and participated in 50+ exhibitions. His honours include Ġieħ Għawdex (2010) and Officer of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (2024).