Stone of the Guanches

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Archaeological sites

The Stone of the Guanches or Stone of Taganana, also known as Stone of Mirlado or of the Dead, is an archaeological vestige located near the Tamadite ravine, in a high area open to the sea like a terrace or balcony overlooking the Atlantic.

It consists of a structure formed by a large stone block elevated on three smaller rocks and housing a series of rock engravings on its surface made by pecking and abrasion techniques, with several rows of cupules of varying depth and regularity, arranged vertically like steps. These steps allow access to the top of the structure, where new cupules and an unusual and therefore very interesting geometric motif (a "gable roof house" scheme) can be found, which includes a cruciform with a pedestal inside.

The site is associated on one hand with the cult of the Punic goddess Tanit and, on the other, with the practices of exposure and sun-drying of the aboriginal corpses for their mummification (mirlado).

The Stone of the Guanches, both for its engravings and for its altar-shaped structure facing the sea, is one of the most unique elements of Canarian prehistory.

28.57036, -16.250102