Giovanni Francesco Abela was a Maltese of noble Spanish descent. He wrote the first history of Malta, an island whose archaeological history goes back to 5200 BC. The island contains many notable archaeological sites, including seven megalithic sites, some of which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, dating from 3200–700 BC, the oldest of which were once thought to be the oldest free standing structures on Earth. Abela's book explored Malta's folklore, place names, language and history, though it has been said that he glossed over Malta's historical links with Africa and Islam, in favour of European and Christian influences.