SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE December 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cultural Heritage department of La Orotava’s City Council (Tenerife) has completed the investigative efforts associated with the project aimed at identifying potential burial sites from the Civil War in the Llano de Maja, without uncovering adequate evidence to affirm the presence of graves in this region situated in Las Cañadas del Teide.
Among the probable explanations for the lack of evidence, despite the clarity and wealth of personal accounts, two principal reasons can be proposed. Firstly, it is possible that the oral history regarding the Llano de Maja stems from a case of distorted collective memory, a phenomenon noted in other analogous studies.
Secondly, it may be that access to the potential site of the grave has subsequently been obstructed, as indicated by newly gathered testimonies, complicating or even rendering any search efforts as futile.
This was stated by the local government this Saturday, who further added that this initiative is financed by the Cabildo of Tenerife through its annual support programme for the recovery of historical memory on the island.
Thus, the Llano de Maja is a geographical feature located in Las Cañadas del Teide that has historically been associated with the disappearance of individuals during the early stages of the military coup in 1936.
TESTIMONIES INDICATE A SITE OF DISAPPEARANCE
Numerous accounts refer to it as a site of disappearance, with several pointing to the existence of a grave that may contain the remains of notable figures in island politics, including Carlos Schwartz, former mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, among others.
The primary aim of the project was to verify these oral accounts and identify potential sites that could lead to a future archaeological intervention to recover the remains of those who suffered reprisal and to honour their sacrifice and that of their families.
Nonetheless, despite thorough prospecting alongside the analysis of recent oral, written, and visual documentation, sufficient evidence was not garnered to ascertain the existence of graves within the area known as the Llano de Maja.
However, the City Council emphasised that the absence of conclusive results does not diminish the significance of the work conducted, which has enabled comprehensive documentation of the area and established a strong foundation for future inquiries.
