The third archaeological dig around the Church of San Francisco, aimed at uncovering remnants of the old convent of San Lorenzo de La Orotava, has culminated in the discovery of the skeletal remains of eight individuals in several graves linked to burials that occurred at this religious site prior to its destruction by fire in 1801. The fieldwork, commissioned by the General Directorate of Culture and Heritage of the Canary Islands Government, in collaboration with La Orotava City Council, has allowed for the documentation of burials and previously unknown everyday objects that offer new insights into the operation and development of the earliest monastic establishment in the Villa de La Orotava.
These findings, dated to between the late 17th century and the early 18th century, bolster the hypothesis that the interiors of such ecclesiastical spaces served as burial grounds, as noted by the Prored team, the organisation responsible for this project since 2021.
In addition to these discoveries, restoration work has been carried out on the architectural features associated with this ancient convent, founded in 1519, which includes a stone arch and a nearby column adorned with a Corinthian-style capital. The positioning of these elements, as detailed by the excavation team, verifies earlier assertions that the area in question corresponds to an interior nave of the convent.
The team of archaeologists uncovers the remnants of the ancient Franciscan convent of La Orotava. | ED
The founder Bartolomé Benítez
The Church of San Francisco de La Orotava is erected upon the ruins of the ancient convent of San Lorenzo, which was established by Bartolomé Benítez de Lugo, the nephew of the conqueror of Tenerife, Alonso Fernández de Lugo, in the early 16th century (1519). In 1801, the convent was ravaged by a fire and subsequently reconstructed, incorporating some elements from the original structure, such as the entrance porch, the gallery surrounding the courtyard, and the stairs leading to the cloister.
According to the general director of Culture and Cultural Heritage, Miguel Ángel Clavijo, this research is pivotal for “delving into the history of a convent that Viera y Clavijo termed El Escorial de Canarias.” “This is part of history that has been concealed and deserves to be unearthed due to its influence on the future not only of the Villa de La Orotava but of the entire Archipelago, as we must bear in mind that this property was one of the first Franciscan convents in the Canary Islands,” he stated during a visit to the site.
The mayor of La Orotava, Francisco Linares, positively assessed the archaeological initiatives being undertaken in the municipality, noting that “these investigations enable us to unearth aspects of local history and immerse ourselves in the values of our heritage.
Regarding the anthropological examination of the skeletal remains, out of the eight individuals recorded, three were adults and five were minors. This discovery is significant as it illustrates that the convent served as a burial site for individuals of various ages, with some graves reused for interring the remains of children, a common funerary practice of that era, as determined by the archaeologists.
Additionally, artefacts related to clothing, daily life and furnishings used by the inhabitants of this site have been recovered, including a coin, a pin, several buttons, and a pipe, among other relics contextualised within the Old Regime.
Furthermore, the excavation has enabled the identification of a stratigraphic layer that comprises other architectural components such as stone blocks and remnants of brick, which are part of the original structures of this historic convent.
Key information
These structural elements, along with the human remains discovered, furnish crucial information regarding the organisation of the convent and the funerary customs that occurred there. The detailed analysis of the artefacts will continue in forthcoming phases of the campaign, as will the implementation of restoration and conservation strategies.
During a previous excavation in 2022, archaeologists had already identified skeletal remains at this ancient convent. That time, they uncovered remnants of chasnera slabs, slate, brick, baked clay slabs, and artifacts representative of the lifestyle of that period, such as handmade ceramics.
