SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Jan. 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The rock carvings of La Palma have officially been included in the Tentative List of Spain, a crucial preliminary step towards securing recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This initiative, championed by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of La Palma, received unanimous endorsement from all autonomous communities and cities during the 95th Historical Heritage Council held on Friday morning in Murcia.
The General Directorate of Culture and Cultural Heritage, along with the island authority and the backing of the Ministry of Culture, has been developing this application over the past year in line with the standards and criteria set forth by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, receiving positive assessments from both the working group and independent experts.
Following this process, the Spanish proposals will be forwarded to the specialised UN agency as an extension of the existing List and must remain under consideration for at least a year before Spain can elevate them as candidates for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Consequently, this is an essential initial step in the ongoing preparation of the dossier by the Island Council of La Palma, as noted by the Canarian Government in a statement.
Miguel Ángel Clavijo, the General Director of Culture and Cultural Heritage, remarked, “Today marks a significant day for the cultural heritage of the Canary Islands,” and emphasised the need to “commend all institutions” for this achievement, which must be sustained through “diligent and careful efforts” in the coming years.
He explained that this is merely the “beginning of a long process of continual evaluation,” reflecting the strong commitment of the Government of the Canary Islands.
“We are at the outset of a journey of responsibilities aimed solely at conserving and promoting these expressions of Benahoarita culture for future generations,” stated the president of the Cabildo of La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, during his remarks at the Council, also highlighting their intent to collaborate “closely” with the Government and all the municipalities across the island, as each municipality features rock art elements.
Additionally, Héctor Izquierdo, the special commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, emphasised the efforts of all public administrations involved in ensuring that the rock engravings of La Palma “receive the recognition and prestige they merit.”
He articulated that these are an “important cultural and tourist attraction for the island” and, more critically, a “new tool” for preserving the island’s history during the Council meeting.
Alongside the rock engravings, three additional proposals have also been added to the Tentative List, notable among them being the transnational candidacy with the Dominican Republic regarding the first sugar mills in the Atlantic, which encompasses three sites in Gran Canaria; Telde, Guía, and Agaete, along with one in La Palma, located in the municipality of Los Llanos de Aridane.
MORE THAN 500 RECORDING STATIONS
The proposal advocated by the Canary Islands was presented by retired professor of Prehistory at the University of La Laguna, Juan Francisco Navarro, and Jorge Pais, inspector of Historical Heritage for the Island Council of La Palma. They underscored that these sites represent the most significant graphic and symbolic examples of the island’s indigenous heritage, with 520 rock engraving stations distributed throughout the island.
Although similar depictions exist in other regions across the globe, those found in La Palma hold Exceptional Universal Value because of their remarkable abundance; due to their technical and thematic prowess and as expressions of a culture originating from North African rock art, which evolved uniquely in isolation for over 1,500 years, as highlighted by the Executive.
The vast majority of the Benahoarite petroglyphs are well-preserved, and the protective measures implemented have mitigated possible adverse effects caused by construction, vandalism, and natural deteriorations.
Moreover, these illustrations possess a strong cultural significance for the local population, which has resonated throughout the rest of the archipelago as an affirmation of their Canarian-Amazigh heritage.
The robustness of the values attributed to these sites is underpinned by a considerable body of scientific literature, publications, and articles produced by esteemed specialists, thus ensuring that the scientific backing is more than adequate to authenticate the rock engravings found in La Palma.
