The social archaeology organisation Imastanen alerted this Saturday about the initiation of work on the contentious motor circuit in Tenerife, located in the Arogo region of Granadilla de Abona. Following reports from local inhabitants, members of this group visited the site and captured images of the new signage that had been erected recently. They engaged in conversations with workers from the firm responsible for the excavations, informing them of the presence of several archaeological sites that may be impacted by the ongoing project.
The organisation further noted that the area of the project is being cordoned off and has updated the island’s Heritage department regarding the situation, emphasising its duty to safeguard this indigenous legacy. Additionally, last year, after securing the necessary permits for archaeological assessments, the General Directorate of Nature Protection of the Government of the Canary Islands, along with the Department of Territorial Planning, Historical Heritage and Tourism of the Cabildo de Tenerife, were informed of a total of 19 existing archaeological units, comprising 17 ethnographic and 3 architectural sites.
The group remains hopeful that, given the commitment of the relevant authorities, these sites will receive the protection they deserve, although there are concerns about potential repercussions. They continue to oppose this development and question the fate of “this rich heritage if its existence had not been reported a year ago within the context of a contentious project that has persisted intermittently for years, involving clearing activities and the construction of access roads.”
Additionally, queries arise regarding the fate of the archaeological and ethnographic artefacts that have been removed and relocated from their original setting, “which have lost significant value, hampering their potential study, resulting in irreversible damage.” In this regard, they remind that “the archaeological context of certain engravings holds numerous keys and significances that only resonate within their place of origin; specifically, where they were created. The motivations behind the Guanches’ creation of these rock art expressions, often to sanctify specific areas of the landscape, remain largely unexplored. Examining these invaluable sites in situ would provide a wealth of critical information about our ancestors, their beliefs, and lifestyle.”
Unquestionably, as has been the case until now, they highlight the potential repercussions of this heritage being situated amidst a structure like a motor circuit. “We struggle to comprehend how these other deposits, given their characteristics and sensitivity, can be excavated without suffering irreversible damage, whilst simultaneously preserving their original dignity and cultural significance in the midst of car parks, grandstands, bends, and asphalted straights of a motor circuit intended for high-speed competitions.”
For this reason, they assert that they will meticulously monitor the forthcoming developments in this project, which, in their view, starkly illustrates the conflict between the desire to preserve and protect our natural wealth and cultural identity and the development model proposed by the current territory managers.
