SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Dec. 2 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Government of the Canary Islands, in view of the recent findings of new rock art in the area where the ‘Cuna del Alma’ tourist development is being built, in Adeje, has ordered the total suspension of the works, by virtue of article 59.2 of the Canary Islands Cultural Heritage Law, with the adoption of new precautionary measures for a period of six months.
The Government of the Canary Islands will carry out an in-depth archaeological study to prevent further deterioration of the sites located on this land and to prevent the production of damage to all Canarian cultural heritage assets found in the area and that could become irreversible.
Only those actions strictly related to the protection of the patrimonial assets found, as well as any other element or area with patrimonial value, may be carried out, and these specific incursions must be carried out under the supervision of specialized technical personnel.
On May 31, the Cabildo de Tenerife already adopted the precautionary measures, issuing a report in which the events are described as “very serious”, includes a note from the Executive.
The High Inspectorate of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage visited on July 12 to verify the facts and assess the damage caused by the works carried out by the promoting company Segunda Casa Adeje SL, a visit in which the condition of the deposit with great potential (PA4), where a part of the structure has been flattened and the surface material cannot be recognized due to the works carried out, leaving only part of it and a cabin, two shelters and three rocks with engravings located in the immediate surroundings of the structures.
The seriousness of the events and the irreversible loss of ethnographic assets and archaeological sites constitute “irreparable damage” for which the sanctioning process begins, the Government highlights.
The new engravings were found on November 7 and this communication, together with the other four sites whose information was provided by the Tegüico Association and another engraving located on the first visit by the High Inspection, are goods that are not were collected in the study commissioned by the company.
In addition, the sites found that house rock art are declared with the category of archaeological zones in accordance with article 87.2.a.
This leads to rethinking the need to review and carry out a survey of the entire unit of action again to avoid possible effects on what is on the surface, highlights the Executive.
