In 1915 archeologist Thomas Ashbey said that the tower is of Phoenician origins.Cutajar, Tony (2015), "Appeal to preserve San Ġwann’s neglected historical heritage", Times of Malta. The tower is generally believed to be a Roman tower, hence the references as San Gwann Roman Tower or Ta' Cieda Roman Tower or Ta' Cieda Round Tower. Archeologists, such as Professor A. Bonanno, argue that speaking on the context of the time it is more likely that the tower was built during the Punic period rather than the Roman period as attack were less likely during the latter. Round tower designs were already established at the time of the Punic period. Indeed, historians hold that the Maltese archipelago in the third century was at the aim of Carthage and the Romans by invading the native Punic civilisation. Despite these plausible arguments it is also argued that the tower may have been built by the Punic people and then embellished by the Romans. From the findings it is also suggested that the Romans may have built it in the form of a folly to overlook the plantation of the olive trees which originate in the area since Roman times. Even if so it is not clearly known as no Roman villas were ever recorded to exist in the area, but Romans did rule the islands for a long period.Adolphus Lewis, Harrison (1977), "Ancient Malta: A Study of Its Antiquities", Smyth, , p. 112.Buhagiar, Mario (2005), "The late Medieval art and architecture of the Maltese islands", Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, , p. xxii. For instance Roman villas and Roman buildings were excavated near other Roman towers in the south of Malta such as in Hal Safi and Żurrieq, and as a chain of towers working together this may be also a plausible argument.Sagona, Claudia (2015), 'Melita and Gaulos during the Punic Period', in "The Archeology of Malta", Cambridge University Press, , p. 239.
