The Ta' Cieda Round Tower is one of six known Classical Age towers found scattered in Malta. No such towers are known to exist in Gozo. Only one-third of the outer circular wall of the Ta' Cieda tower in San Gwann exists today. The tower is now engulfed by modern houses. It was partially explored by archaeologist Dr. David Trump in 1960 who also noted the ancient cistern closeby. This cistern is characterised by horizontal arches. It was internally lined with a cement-like mortar formed of finely-crushed pottery and lime or hydraulic cement. Known also as "Roman Towers", there is little evidence to date these structures to that period of history.  Prof. A. Bonanno argues that if their purpose was defence, they are more likely to date to the earlier Punic Period when the central Mediterranean was being contested between the Romans and the Carthaginians in the third century BC.  This argument is supported by the archaeological stratification  noted during the excavations in Ta' Cieda and elsewhere; as also by their ashlar construction technique which is quite typical of Punic buildings of this late date.. An alternate suggested use is that of watch rower intended to guard over olive estates gravitating around ancient villas. There does not however appear to be any Classical Age villas in the San Gwann region.