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Archaeologists find 800-year-old seeds and tools preserved in Gran Canaria’s dry climate. Understand how the caves functioned as silos and tombs.
A geological and climatic phenomenon allowed archaeologists to recover rare biological treasures in the Roque Bentayga monolith, in Gran Canaria. In a complex of more than 100 chambers excavated in volcanic tuff, the absence of humidity and constant temperature acted as a natural preservative for materials that normally disappear over time. The information is from the website Aventuras na História.
The discovery, detailed in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, brought to light barley seeds, leather fragments, and animal fabrics from the 10th to 13th centuries, offering an unprecedented scientific window into the life of the indigenous Amazigh peoples before the European occupation.
The miracle of biological conservation
What most impressed researchers during excavations at complex C008 was the integrity of the organic materials. While most archaeological sites present only stones and ceramics, the Bentayga caves functioned as time capsules due to their extreme dryness.
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Among the items recovered, highlights include:
- Textiles and leathers: Fragments of soft materials of animal origin.
- Ancient botany: Batches of barley, seeds, and reeds that did not decompose.
- Vegetable shrouds: Woven fibers that wrapped bodies in funerary rituals.
- Worked woods: Wooden utensils that preserve the marks of the tools of the time.
The material proof of the agricultural revolution
Beyond biology, archaeologists celebrated a historic victory in the field of pre-Hispanic technology. For the first time, science obtained direct physical proof that the ancient inhabitants of the Canary Islands possessed specific instruments for harvesting cereals.
Until then, knowledge about local agriculture was based on assumptions. However, the analysis of a basalt blade revealed remnants of silica-rich plants, confirming its use in the field. Furthermore, the discovery of barley bundles with cut marks suggests the use of scythe-like tools.
This finding proves that the sedentarization process of these peoples was advanced, involving the systematic separation between grain and stalk for mass storage.
From granaries to cemeteries: The evolution of cave use
The chronology established by radiocarbon tests indicates that the function of these artificial structures changed drastically over the centuries. Initially designed as high-efficiency silos to ensure the food security of the population, the chambers underwent a cultural reappropriation.
- 10th to 13th centuries: The main focus was storage in protected granaries.
- 12th and 13th centuries: The site began to house collective burials.
- Demographic diversity: Adult remains were found, indicating a cemetery.
- Food processing: The discovery of an obsidian piece suggests that, in addition to grains, the site also served to process meat derivatives.
Although the research still needs final validation by academic peers, current data is already rewriting chapters in the history of the Canary Islands. The mastery of engineering to sculpt mountains at an altitude of 1,414 meters demonstrates a brilliant adaptation to the volcanic terrain.
With information from the website Aventuras na História
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