The Caves of Valerón, also known as Valerón’s “Monastery” is an ancient pre-Hispanic rock-cut complex of honeycomb caves on the north-west face of the Mountain of the Galician (“Montaña del Gallego”) in the Spanish island of Grand Canary. The ancient Canarians, or Guanches were the first aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands, who were genetically similar to ancient North African Berber peoples of the nearby North African mainland. Some sources claim that the caves date from before the Roman period, however, radiocarbon dating of dried fig seeds found in situ suggests that the caves date from around AD 1040, with other radiocarbon studies of dried barley proposing dates from AD 1330 up to 1410. Academics have suggested that the caves share comparisons with similar granaries or agadirs found in North Africa, which would have a common storage area communally guarded, with chambers allocated for specific individuals. Several dwelling caves are also found within the vicinity of the Caves of Valerón, such as the La Presa caves and those within the complex itself, with the ancient settlement of Layraga most likely being associated.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 11, 2020 20:03 UTC