Study Reveals Ancient Guanches Practiced Sustainable Coastal Harvesting in Tenerife
A study published in The Holocene reveals that the ancient Guanches of Tenerife practiced sustainable coastal harvesting for over a millennium, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of ecosystem management.
The way the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands managed their natural resources is no longer a mystery; it has become a prime example of historical resilience. A study recently published in the journal The Holocene shows that the ancient people of Tenerife practiced sustainable coastal harvesting for over a thousand years.
Led by archaeologists Cristo Hernández and Álvaro Castilla from the University of La Laguna (ULL), the research team studied shell middens in Buenavista del Norte. Rather than just piles of waste, these deposits act as biological archives that help experts reconstruct how the coastal landscape has changed over time. By using microfossils to study the environment, the ULL team discovered that the gathering of mollusks—primarily limpets and periwinkles—between the 2nd and 12th centuries was not random. Instead, it was a carefully managed practice passed down through generations.
The evidence suggests that the Guanches prevented overfishing by selectively harvesting certain specimens, which allowed mollusk colonies to regenerate. This indicates a sophisticated understanding of the ecosystem and challenges the traditional belief that the aboriginal economy relied solely on livestock. Isotopic data and fish remains found at the sites confirm that the sea was a vital part of their diet, proving that these people had a diverse and well-adapted food strategy.
The research also offers new insights into how the island’s landscape was transformed. By analyzing the archaeological record, experts can see how early settlers cleared land and created pastures, altering the original native vegetation. While this human impact was moderate, it marked the beginning of a lasting change to the coastline.
Given the importance of these findings, the scientific community and local authorities are now discussing how to protect these sites. Declaring the area a protected archaeological space is being considered as a vital step to preserve this history, which provides valuable lessons on how humans and the environment can interact over the long term.