The Enchanted Valley of Shadows: The Ancient's Eternal Rest, Necrópolis of

In the heart of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, upon the enchanted island of Gran Canaria, dwells the Necrópolis of Arteara. This ancient burial site, adorned with 800 stone cairns, was fashioned from the very stones of the land. Each cist, a box-like resting place, served as a burial chamber, adorned often with a superstructure or tower, taking various shapes like conical, pyramidal, circular, or rectangular. Hidden within this valley, these tombs hold the eternal resting places of Canarian ancestors that once flourished long ago.

The people of Barranco de Fataga have long continued to revere and uphold this sacred site even after the conquest by Castille. In the days of 2300 years ago, the site witnessed extraordinary astronomical events, such as the Vernal equinox in March, when the sun would gracefully illuminate the U-shaped depression within the Macizo de Amurga, illuminating a burial known as El Rey. While in September, the Autumnal equinox would unfold a mesmerizing heliolithic event as the sun would be briefly concealed by the rocks, only to be reborn again.

In 1973, this site was declared a National Monument of Historic-Artistic interest, and later in 1985, it was classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural with the category of Archeological Zone. The Necrópolis of Arteara stands as an enduring testament to the wealth of ancient Canarian culture in this hidden valley.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons