The Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz is set to unveil its permanent exhibition later this year, which has been closed since June 2017 due to unresolved humidity issues, despite an allocation of 80,000 euros to address the problem after several years.
This has been confirmed to this publication by its director, Juana Hernández, and the councillor for Sociocultural Services and Innovation, Jesús Reverón, who mentioned that the project is currently in the planning stage. Reverón noted that he prefers to stay informed about the progress and plans in each exhibition room, leaving the technical details to the knowledgeable staff.
The museum houses a significant collection of Guanche ceramics, making it one of the most vital collections in the Canary Islands. In June 2017, during the 3D reconstruction process of 20 pieces for a virtual exhibition, staff discovered hidden humidity issues in the exterior facade.
The structure, made of stone, mud, and wood, experienced leakage which led to the breaking of a display case holding large storage vessels. Although no damage was caused, similar issues were found in other areas prompting the removal of pieces to ensure proper conservation.
While the exhibition area remains closed to the public since then, the museum as a whole has remained open for visitors to enjoy the collections and temporary exhibitions.
Enhancing Visual Content
When asked about the upcoming exhibition, the director mentioned that the visual content and presentation style are being revamped with multimedia elements to align with contemporary standards. Hernández emphasized that the updates will be modest yet significant to bring the displays up to date after a considerable period. She is optimistic that these enhancements will be completed before the year ends.
Currently, focus is on three display cases as the ones required to meet regulations are costly to import and need specific features like humidity and temperature control to maintain ideal conditions for housing inorganic materials such as ceramics. Plans are in place to address the remaining two cases next year.
Ceramics play a crucial role in Guanche culture as they were not only used in daily life but also in burial rituals. The Guanche people believed in an afterlife and included ceramics in the funerary items to aid the deceased on their journey.
