Coastal Life Flourished on Canary Islands by 11th Century
Archaeological discoveries in the Canary Islands are shedding new light on how ancient North African cultures embraced marine living. Evidence suggests that by the 11th century, inhabitants of these islands were adept at harvesting and preparing a diverse array of fish and other sea life. This points to coastal resources playing a significant role in their economic systems, according to recent research.
The Atlantic archipelago was settled by Berber populations from northwestern Africa. The Canary Islands, settled by these groups starting around the first century, offer crucial comparative data for understanding the development of coastal economies in Africa, an area where maritime adaptations have been historically understudied.
Evidence from Playa Chica Site
Researchers examined samples from Playa Chica, a coastal archaeological site on the island of Gran Canaria. Radiocarbon dating places the site between the 11th and 13th centuries. At this location, the team unearthed fish scales and goat horns. The latter are believed to have been used as tools for scaling fish, indicating the site’s function in processing marine catches.
Furthermore, remnants of plant material known for producing significant smoke when burned, such as pine cones, were found. This suggests that fish may have been smoked or dried as a method of preservation. Analysis of the fish remains reveals a predominance of near-shore species, implying that fishing activities were primarily conducted close to land.
Based on the species identified and the discovery of fishhooks crafted from pig tusks, researchers conclude that both net and line fishing techniques were likely employed.
Significance of the Findings
While limited data from earlier periods at Playa Chica and a general scarcity of excavated coastal sites across the archipelago mean these conclusions are preliminary, the study strongly indicates that Playa Chica served as a central hub for supplying seafood to the wider island community. This aligns with the development of established island economies and provides a detailed glimpse into the historical, and still largely enigmatic, coastal cultures of northwestern Africa.
Future research is expected to focus on excavating and sampling additional coastal areas to identify comparable patterns of marine resource exploitation.
Expert Insights
Jonathan Santana, the lead author of the study, stated, “What makes Playa Chica exceptional is that we are not simply looking at a place where people occasionally ate fish and shellfish. The concentration of specialized fishing tools, the thousands of fish scales, the abundance of hearths and the near-absence of domestic pottery all point to a space dedicated to capturing, processing and preserving marine food.” He added, “For the first time we can see, at this level of detail, how the Indigenous communities of the Canary Islands organized their relationship with the sea, and understand the coast not as a last resort, but as a central part of their economy and their way of life.”
Jacob Morales, an archaeobotanist and co-author, elaborated on the plant findings: “The plant remains tell a very particular story. Rather than the pine wood normally used for cooking and heating across the island, the people here deliberately gathered plants that smoke heavily at low temperatures. Burning them over shallow fires would have slowly dried and lightly smoked the fish, reducing its moisture and its spoilage so that it could be stored or exchanged with inland communities. It is, in essence, an early form of food preservation captured in the archaeological record.””
The findings were published in the journal PLOS One.
