Fire at Granadilla de Abona Archaeological Site Sparks Outcry Over Heritage Neglect
A fire at a Guanche cave site in Granadilla de Abona has sparked criticism of local authorities, with heritage experts citing long-term administrative neglect and a lack of security as the primary reasons for the region's vulnerability to such damage.
A recent fire in Granadilla de Abona has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of the region’s archaeological sites. The blaze damaged a group of Guanche caves, which contain significant historical artifacts, including rock carvings, cupules, and channels, alongside ethnographic remains from the post-conquest era.
The social archaeology group Imastanen, which was alerted to the fire by local residents, has reported the incident to the Tenerife Island Council’s Heritage Department. Beyond the physical damage caused by the flames, the group is criticizing the local government for a lack of preventive measures. While the exact cause is still under investigation, experts believe the fire was likely started by negligence, possibly from a barbecue.
Specialists argue that this incident is a result of long-term administrative neglect. The site has not been fully studied and has frequently suffered from illegal occupation and unauthorized activities. Imastanen has repeatedly reported issues such as the buildup of trash, the construction of makeshift structures, and the hosting of events in these protected areas. They note that even when evictions occur, there are no security protocols in place to prevent these problems from happening again.
The situation in Granadilla de Abona highlights a wider issue across the Canary Islands: the disconnect between the legal protection promised by cultural heritage laws and the reality on the ground. Many sites are not included in official catalogs, making them harder to protect and more prone to decay. Imastanen is now calling for a thorough investigation, warning that the ongoing inaction of authorities is leading to the irreversible loss of sites that are essential to the island's cultural identity.