In the rock formation of Roque Bentayga, in Gran Canaria, a team of archaeologists discovered the oldest evidence of cereal processing in the Canary Islands. The discovery occurred in the C008 cave complex, a site that functioned as a barn and plant processing space, and was later used as a burial
site.Ancient canaries, of Amazigh or Berber origin, inhabited these caves between the tenth and thirteenth centuries. The excavations made it possible to recover more than 200 lithic artifacts, including a small basalt knife that showed characteristic marks
under the microscope.The tools that change the landscape
The analysis of the wear patterns on these pieces revealed that they were used repeatedly to cut barley stalks, similar to the use given to sickles. This fact is key because until now there has been a debate among specialists about whether the original inhabitants had this technology before the arrival of the Spaniards in the
15th century.Evidence suggests that pre-Hispanic canaries already mastered advanced agricultural techniques for their time and insular environment. The site suggests a social organization that included grain storage and systematic plant processing.
The discovery was announced through a report in The Green Compass and has been published in detail in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
