La Laguna Launches Archaeological Education Program to Protect Heritage Sites

San Cristóbal de La Laguna is taking a new approach to protecting its archaeological heritage by bringing history lessons directly into local primary schools. Through a new initiative from the Department of Cultural Heritage, 376 students in the 5th and 6th grades from nine public schools have traded their classrooms for simulated archaeological digs in their own school gardens.

Coordinated by the company Trivo between April and June, the project is more than just a fun activity. Adolfo Cordobés, the local councilor, explains that the goal is to prevent the looting and vandalism that threaten the island’s actual archaeological sites. By teaching children the scientific method—such as how to carefully handle and classify ceramics, skeletal remains, and shells—the city hopes to show students how fragile these historical sites are and why disturbing them without expert supervision causes permanent damage.

This program is part of a larger effort to preserve the region's history. The Urban Planning Department has recently updated its inventory of 83 historical sites, working closely with local neighborhood associations. This catalog will be included in the city’s new General Urban Development Plan and features modern technology, such as 3D models of rock carvings that are now available online for anyone to study.

This is a long-term commitment rather than a one-time event. The city council plans to launch a volunteer program in partnership with the Island Council of Tenerife and the Canary Islands government. By using accessible tools—including visual guides and the educational video game Aguere. La Fundación—La Laguna is building a model that uses public education and awareness as the best defense against the loss of its aboriginal heritage.