He is also baffled by the fact that although the authorities have not recognised, or even considered the site, the Malta Tourism Authority sponsored a seminar on the `underwater temples`, Discovering the Mysterious Past of Ancient Malta, with the participation of top international experts in the field.

Although he was in favour of the seminar, Mr Arrigo, who produces underwater documentaries, felt that the government should take the underwater temple issue into account, and an attempt be undertaken to study the site before things went too far.

In response to the allegations, the Museums Department said the National Museum of Archaeology had received a report by author Anton Mifsud last month, saying that features he believed to be man-made were discovered off the north coast of Malta.

Mr Mifsud is the author of Malta: Echoes of Plato`s Island, which concludes that Malta was Atlantis, and which was discussed at the seminar.

The features in question reportedly consisted of trough-like structures, noted on the seabed by scuba-divers at an unknown date, the department said, adding that the indicated site would be inspected probably in the coming month - weather permitting - by the museum`s staff.

Another two suspect marine sites were also scheduled for inspection in the coming weeks, the department said.

These sites were being inspected by museum staff, following reports by sport divers on the discovery of items of possible archaeological interest at sea, it continued.

The department said that 2001 has seen the museum staff engaged in a high number of marine dives, both to conduct inspections, as well as for research purposes. These dives targeted Punic to Byzantine sites both off Malta and Gozo, as well as off Comino.

The intense programme of archaeological dives has been carried out in spite of the fact that the museum`s staff was also engaged in other major archaeological projects and initiatives.

The department said that "no comment on the recently reported site can be attempted before a complete inspection has been carried out."

However, it added that inspection by museum archaeologists on an apparently similar system of trough-like features, located in 1999 to the northwest of Malta, did not reveal significant archaeological data.

The group Matrix, which organised the seminar, was already taking the credit for the discovery, Mr Arrigo said, adding that it had already registered it as the `Janet-Johan Site`.

The history of the discovery of the `underwater temples` dates back to summer 1999 when Shaun and his brother Kurt were commissioned by Prof. Zeitlmair, based on a theory stemming from a Second World War aerial photograph, he said.

The coordinates were too far out and too deep, so the Arrigo brothers decided to move closer to land where they found circular holes and large boulders, Mr Arrigo explained.

Although the news spread rapidly over the internet, and author Graham Hancock from Channel 4 came over to film it, the Museums Department ignored the findings, Mr Arrigo said.

Mr Hancock has become recognised as an unconventional thinker, who raises legitimate questions about humanity`s history and prehistory and offers an increasingly popular challenge to the entrenched views of orthodox scholars.

His international bestsellers, The Sign and The Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods and Heaven`s Mirror, have sold more than five million copies worldwide and have been translated into 27 languages. His public lectures and TV appearances, including the three-hour series Quest For the Lost Civilisation, have put his ideas before audiences of tens of millions.

Last May, the Arrigos stumbled upon more findings - straight and deep lines - again on the plateau off Malta`s northeast coast. A pottery plate, 8 cms in diameter, was found in one of the lines and forwarded to the Museums Department, together with photographs.

But, "till today, we have heard nothing of it," Mr Arrigo said.

He quoted Mr Hancock as saying he believed the grooves to be "definitely man-made".

The latest discovery was made in October when the Arrigos found more of the same cart rut-style structures in another area of the same site.