MUSEO CANARIO, LAS PALMAS
Early Canarian history is a mysterious and fascinating subject that is given in-depth coverage in this excellent museum. The collection presents the most respected theories concerning the origins and practices of the Canarii, allowing you to reach your own conclusions. While most of the objects were unearthed on Gran Canaria, there is also a lot of detailed information on the primitive cultures of the other islands.
NEED TO KNOW
C/Dr Verneau 2 • 928 33 68 00 • www.elmuseocanario.com • Open 10am–8pm Mon–Fri, 10am–2pm Sat, Sun • Adm: €4.00; concessions €2.40; children under 12 free
- The museum shop is located on the right-hand side, just before you enter the museum. It sells handicrafts, books and a selection of souvenirs.
- For those who want to delve deeper into Canarian history, the museum has a superlative library, which holds almost every book published in or about the Canary Islands, as well as a huge archive of Canarian newspapers.
Museo Canario Floorplan
1. Pintaderas
The purpose of these small ceramic stamps still isn’t known. The Canarii used them either to mark patterns on their skin or to personalize grain stores. Pick your favourite and then head to the shop for a replica necklace.
2. Funeral Rites and Medicine
With mummification just for the higher classes, the Canarii also built stone tombs and wooden coffins. Ghoulish skulls illustrate trepanation, a medical procedure in which cranial holes were drilled to ease pain.
3. Skulls and Bones
Hundreds of smiling skulls, possibly of Cro-Magnon man, adorn the walls in this eerie yet intriguing room.
Intriguing exhibits at Museo Canario
4. Housing
The Spaniards were intrigued to find primitive peoples living in caves and stone houses alongside more advanced communities. Fascinating photos and models illustrate both types of dwelling.
Fascinating model of ancient housing
5. Aboriginal Ceramics
This island-by-island showcase of aboriginal ceramics also includes the primitive tools used to create them.
6. Mummies
Some theories link the Canarii to the Egyptians, owing to their similar methods of mummification. Archeologists continue to find artifacts across the islands, but the tombs were raided long ago, and their contents sold to the museum.
Mummies at Museo Canario
7. Reproduction of the Cueva Pintada
The original site is in Gáldar, but you can also see some Canarii art at the museum. The geometric patterns in black, white and red represent the finest examples of cave art to be seen on the islands. The museum’s version is an almost perfect replica of the original.
8. Agriculture and Farming
The basic tools on display demonstrate the tough life of the pastoral Canarii, who survived on limited resources.
9. Traditional Pottery
The tradition of crafting pottery without using a wheel has persisted on Gran Canaria. See some examples here.
Exhibit depicting traditional pottery
10. Magic and Religion
Chroniclers of the Conquest wrote that the Canarii worshipped a single god, but the survival of numerous idols suggests that this was not the case. Most deities found on the island take the female form; the largest, the Tara Idol, is now a symbol of pride for Canary Islanders.
LIKE CANARIES AND DOGS
Early inhabitants called the island Tamarán. When the conquerors arrived, they split it into two cantons, each led by a guanarteme (chief). Outsiders have referred to the island as Canaria for at least 2,000 years, though few can agree whether it was named after dogs, birds or the Berber tribe who inhabited it before the arrival of the Spanish.
