ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni

The hypogeum of ħal-saflieni is a fancy word for an underground site in Malta. Imagine a big hole in the ground that goes deep underground, like a giant cave. This site is special because it was built a long, long time ago, even before people had computers or machines to help them build things.

Inside this big hole, there are many rooms and passages. These rooms were created by cutting through solid rock by hand, using sharp tools like picks and chisels. Can you imagine how much work that must have been?

People who lived a very long time ago made this place, and it's a mystery why they built it. Some people believe it was a temple, a place where they would pray and worship. Others think it was a burial site, where people were buried after they died.

The underground rooms are special because they were made with an incredible amount of care and skill. If you visit this site, you will see that the walls and ceilings are very smooth, like they were polished. You might notice that some of the walls have special patterns carved into them, like swirls or zig-zags.

The most mysterious thing about this site is that it's very dark and quiet inside, and it feels almost like the walls are breathing. This is because of the way the air flows inside. Scientists still don't know exactly how the air moves and why it feels the way it does.

Overall, the hypogeum of ħal-saflieni is an incredible place to explore and learn about. Although it was built a very long time ago, it still holds many secrets that scientists and archaeologists are trying to uncover.