Tangible heritage
Archaeological sites, painted caves, traditional pottery and architecture that materialise the history of the Canary Islands.
Canarian tangible heritage encompasses the archaeological remains, architectural spaces and objects that have survived to the present. From the Cueva Pintada of Gáldar to the pottery of Moya or the necropolis of Arteara, these assets bear witness to the societies that inhabited the archipelago over the centuries.[1][2]
Sites and spaces
The Cueva Pintada of Gáldar, the site of Telde, the necropolis of Arteara and the cave-dwelling complexes of Tenerife are fundamental references of Canarian archaeological heritage. Their study makes it possible to reconstruct ways of life, beliefs and social organisation.[1][2][3]
Pottery and crafts
The pottery of Moya preserves techniques of aboriginal tradition, while Guanche pottery from Tenerife has been studied through collections such as that of the Hupalupa collection. These material productions combine domestic, ritual and artistic expression.[1][2]
Related reading
The Painted Cave of Gáldar: Techniques and Meaning of Indigenous Mural Art
A detailed look at the techniques and meaning behind the polychrome murals of the Painted Cave of Gáldar, the most remarkable example of indigenous mural painting in Gran Canaria.
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Traditional Pottery Making in Moya: Techniques and Materials
A detailed look at the traditional pottery process in Moya, Gran Canaria, focusing on techniques and materials as documented by Romero Roque.
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Funerary Architecture in the Arteara Necropolis: Tumuli and Cists
A detailed analysis of the construction and typology of tumuli and cists in the Arteara Necropolis, the largest pre-Hispanic cemetery in the Canary Islands.
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Guanche Pottery of Tenerife: Techniques and Types in the Hermógenes Afonso Collection
The Hermógenes Afonso collection provides a detailed overview of Guanche pottery from Tenerife, highlighting its manufacturing techniques, materials, and characteristic forms.
Read moreSources used
- Rodríguez Santana, Carmen Gloria — Cueva Pintada. Gáldar, Gran Canaria. Museo y Parque arqueológico: visitors guide (2008), pp. 49 p. Memoria Digital de Canarias — ULPGCView reference
- Romero Roque, Francisco — Moya, alfarería popular de tradición aborigen (2010), pp. 53 p. Memoria Digital de Canarias — ULPGCView reference
- Ayuntamiento de Telde — El patrimonio arqueológico de Telde (1988), pp. 24 p. Memoria Digital de Canarias — ULPGCView reference
- Schlueter Caballero, Rosa — La necrópolis de Arteara. Síntesis imposible (2009), pp. 80 p. Memoria Digital de Canarias — ULPGCView reference
- Zebensui López Trujillo (coord.) — Historia y Patrimonio de Canarias, Vol. 1: Las primeras poblaciones de Canarias (ESO y Bachillerato) (2020)View reference