The research undertaken at Llano de Maja, situated in Las Cañadas del Teide (Tenerife), aimed at identifying the burial sites of individuals who suffered reprisals from the Franco regime following the military uprising against the Spanish government in 1936, has concluded without yielding any results, as reported by La Orotava City Council this Saturday.
This investigation, sponsored by the Tenerife Cabildo, is grounded in numerous accounts linking Llano de Maja to the disappearance of individuals during the early stages of the military revolt.
Several of these accounts indicate the presence of a grave that purportedly contains the remains of significant political figures from the island, including Carlos Schwartz, who was the mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the time.
The primary aim of the project was to verify these oral accounts and identify potential sites that could lead to the recovery of the remains of those who were persecuted, thereby honouring their sacrifice and that of their families.
The city council of La Orotava engaged a multidisciplinary team, spearheaded by historical memory expert Luana Studer Villazán, who conducted a thorough documentary review and an extensive survey of the land.
One of the significant challenges faced was to ascertain whether the volcanic tubes in the vicinity may have served as burial sites, as suggested by some testimonies.
These geological formations were scrutinised in detail, taking into account their location, accessibility, and historical context.
Although sufficient evidence to confirm the existence of graves in the Llano de Maja area has not yet been obtained, the efforts made have allowed for comprehensive documentation of the area and established a robust foundation for future inquiries, as stated by the City Council.
Among the potential reasons for the lack of evidence, despite the clarity and multitude of personal narratives, researchers have identified two possibilities.
One explanation is that the oral tradition surrounding Llano de Maja may reflect a distortion of collective memory, a phenomenon observed in other similar studies.
It is also plausible that access to the potential burial site was subsequently obscured, as indicated by new testimonies that have emerged, complicating or obstructing its location.
“While initial expectations were not completely realised, the efforts invested contribute to collective understanding and reaffirm the institutions’ commitment to uncovering historical truth,” emphasised the City Council of La Orotava.
