1965 cont.

The Early Inhabitants of the Canary Islands, By Alf Bajocco Part IV cont.

"The tumulus is a megalithic structure comprising a series of circular towers. The monument recalls the nuragic villages of Sardinia and in fact, both structures have a certain striking features in common. This does not imply a direct relationship between pre-Roman Sardinia and the island of Gran Canaria. However, such similarities may conceivably be connected with the common background from which both cultures derived. In addition to the tumulus of "La Guanche", other stone structures in the Island of Gran Canaria refrain the leit-motiv of the circular tower. The Canarians dressed in sleeveless blouses made of goat's skin, which were called "Tamarcos". Men and Women wore the same dress. There is no archaeological evidence that local kings and priests were distinguished by more elaborate costumes, even though we may reasonably suppose that they adorned themselves with necklaces and diadems. Actually, a lot of these objects were found during the excavation work, and diadems or crowns made of clay as well as other objects of adornment, were on exhibition in the "Museo Canario" of Las Palmas, where they are also scale models of dwelling houses and burial places. Bags of goat's skin were also used to contain the mummies which were placed in natural caves in the island of Tenerife. Hand driven mill-stones were used to grind cereals. Some of them had three hollows where to put the fingers actioning the grindstone with a clock like movement. The Canarians had stone ovens for baking some of their foods. These folk were very probably hunters before they reaching the Canary Islands where their economy had changed from the hunting and food collecting stage to that of food-production. It may also be that agriculture was imported by the second wave of immigrants belonging to the Mediterranean race. In the island of Tenerife pastoralism was still one of the main activities of the natives at the times of the conquest by the Spanish."

(Webmaster note-As we know the Greeks and Egyptians used a lot of goat skin in dress, and when Noah landed on Arrat he let lose the goats the earliest. Sardinia used goats extensively, which goats more than cows were more appropriate in island domestication, due to size and food conservation. These regions are some of the early regions to cultivate grain, but this leaves a strange problem? If grain did not first move from east to west but west to eastward the Canary Islands could possibly represent a very early stage of grain milling. The stones they use are from early Neolithic stage, it is not they may have invented it as much as they may have derived it from a culture that was moving around at agriculture's own beginnings. This is possible that an island culture would employ grain as a substitute faster then some inland regions due to the need for alternative sources having few food choices at various times that had become scarce. The next information clarifies this point.)

"There is no evidence that the Canarians had salt for the seasoning of foods or for household use, even though it is reasonable to suppose that they had something such as special softners and flavoring substances probably obtained from powdery residue their fires."

(Webmaster note- salt might have been imported but in certain times it was as precious as gold, and sea-salt might have been used at a lot of expense of time to make. The softners and flavorings used in making would be similar to what we find in Haiti, and Jamaica which have spices that would suffice the use of any extension of salt. Pepper was a very early spice and I do not know if there was any variation of pepper on Canary Islands as a substitute, which would be very important in this regard. The next line brings up possible Greek and Basque influences of intoxicants.)

"Some scholars think the Canarians used an alcoholic drink made from the fruits of a local tree called "Visnea Mocanera" by the botanists. The craft of pots achieved a high standard in the Canaries, particularly in the Island of Gran Canaria where a gradual development from Neolithic patterns brought to a varied repertoire of artistically elaborated forms.

While in Tenerife pottery is for the most part plain ware with oval bottom, mainly produced for utilitarian purposes after the Neolithic models, that of Gran Canaria shows skillful use of red and black scheme with geometric motifs recalling pre-Minoan Crete."(Webmaster note-not middle phase nor post Crete but very early, and Egyptians as well pre-dynastic had this red on black style.)

"This does not necessarily imply a relationship between the two cultures, only meaning that there was a common background established since before the immigration of the Saharian peoples to the Canary Islands."

Anyway, even though the pottery of Gran Canaria may be considered a typically local craft, some foreign influences cannot be denied. There are scholars who think the Mediterranean people bringing a higher culture settled in the island overwhelming the ruder Cromagnonoids who became a dominated class. Such theme is fascinating and would deserve a better study. However, one can reasonably ask why these highly cultured newcomers, coming as they surely came from the sea on boats , totally forgot the art of navigation." "We must stress upon the fact that no connecting land bridge ever existed between Africa and the Canary Islands. And again, if the Canaries were reached by staggered waves of immigrants at intervals as long as to imply more advanced cultural stages taking centuries to become consistent, how comes it that all these peoples never care to preserve their craftsmanship leaving it to flow away at such a point that they did not move from an island to another?

"Leaving for the time being the problem of navigation in the Canarian area, we come back to pottery and mention that the only craft of pots which seem to lack of any foreign influence is that of the Hierro Island. In addition to pottery, the art of making clay figurines and idols is an evidence even better than pottery with a view to giving an idea of the artistic level achieved by the early inhabitants of the Canary Islands. A Dog's head (measuring 3.4x 2 inches), made of clay, found at Arucas in the Northern part of Gran Canria, shows such an extrodinary sense of life that it must be considered something more than a modeled representation of the dog. The artist probably intended to sculpture those evil creatures called "Tibicenas" believed as having a dog's appearance. A clay statuette of a woman, dug up on the same place, shows a considerable artistic level even though the head is missing. Other female figurines were found in gran Canaria and they are on exhibit in the local Museum. A vessel cover found at Majada de la Altabaca (Alde or Alta word) in the North West of Gran Canaria, was made like a human face and is something between an attempt to naturalism and exaggeration stressing on a peculiar expression. This piece is absolutely unique."

(Webmaster note-This reminds me of the particular importance of expression that goes back to Cro-Magnon, but also if the pieces which I have not seen is squinting a kind of squinting eye cult as found of the Mayas may explain a very strange connection.)

"The Canarians made typical colanders which were probably used as strainers in cookery. Also typical are the so called "Pintaderas" (small objects of clay or other material which were spread of coloring substances to imprint magic or ornamental drawings on the body). Such "Pintaderas" are similar to European Upper Paleolithic and Mseolithic patterns. According to the tradition handed down since the times of the Spanish conquest, the Canary Islands took their name from the native dogs. In reality, "Canaries" might come from the word "Canis" meaning "dog" in Latin. Recent archaeological work, combined with a study of Canarian animals of today, shows that in ancient times there were at least two types of dog, one which was similar to the Australian dingo."

"Animal bones, mainly goat, have been found during the excavation work held throughout the islands. We know from tradition that the Canarians used to dress themselves in sleeveless blouses made of goat's skin. Actually goats were a fundamental resource in the economic life of the natives." (Webmaster note- a Mesolithic expression)

The Canary Bird is very probably a native animal. It still lives in the wild state in the islands where it preserves its original green color. Foods were generally poor in ancient times and they were mainly based on cereals with only a little meat. The Canarians had a typical food , which is still prepared today, named "Gofio". It was obtained by melting in cold water toasted flour made of barley." (Webmasters note- one can see Barley arrived in Late Mesolithic age at least, and at times displaced earlier Millet)

"Fishing was practiced only to a limited extent by the natives who never used boats or crafts. Residual of shallow-water fish have been found by the archaeologists into the stomach of Canarian mummies examined by them. Perhaps the natives used nets made of animal skin or sinews to dam a shallow water keeping themselves close to the wind and water line."

(Webmaster note- this style of fishing goes back to Paleolithic times of hunter gatherer groups, how funny that invaders came and went and even into almost recent times they still fish this way. Note also no interest whatsoever to develop a navy or extensive boats, it would seem either a prohibition against it, an isolationist behavior, or keeping the place a purposeful secret, not just fear or the loss of navigation skills. One has to start a reason for the other. Was the pity of the invaders to just let them for the most part be due to no precious minerals enough to exploit them?)

"All historians agree in reporting that the Canarians were beautiful. They were tall, well built and of singular proportion. They were also robust and courageous with high mental capacity. Women were very beautiful and Spanish Gentalmen often used to take their wives among the population. The belief that the ancient Canarians were a people favored by great duration of life became popular at the time of the Spanish Conquest ."(Webmaster note a 'Fountain of Youth' and one of the reasons in reports led to Columbus to look beyond the Canary Islands for it.)

"An examination made of the Canarian Mummies with a view to ascertaining the trueness of this report, shows that such a statement is correct if referred to the Canarian districts where foods were abundant and easy to find. I is a pity the Spanish never cared to take a record of the original legends they undoubtedly heard of in the islands. However, it must be taken into account that they were so much in trouble making war against the natives that they had no time at all for cultural activities. The importance of the Canary Islands, lying on their strategic position in the Ocean waters, became outstanding after the discovery of America. Finally wee think that a mention must be made of the work which is being carried out in the islands by eminent Canarian archaeologist, such as Prof. Sebastian Jimenez Sanchez of Las Palmas, Dr.

Ellas Serra Rafols of Tenerife, and many others, with the cooperation of foreign scientists whose contribution has proven to be first class. The activity of Canarian archaeologists is a basic one and is fundamental to anyone who wants to achieve a better understanding of Ancient Canarian cultures.

Magazines and journals dealing with the history and prehistory of the Canary Islands are available. Among these we wish to mention, 'Revista de Historia Canaria, published on behalf of La Laguna University (Tenerife), Faycan, a journal of research edited by Prof. Jimenez Sanchez, El Museo Canario."

Alf Bajocco

And annotated comments By Webmaster D. Clarke of June 26, 2002

In all fairness I tried to put forward what still to this day in the Canary Islands has held true according to Alf Bajocco statements. This in context I have also added to for the probability of Atlantis (A Upper Paleolithic origin kingdom i.e. 10,000 B.C. on back) colonists have a 50% chance of arriving at the Cnary Islands and no less for three important criteria's have been met.

  1. Escaping from a ecological tragedy in their stories, flood myths are known also to exist in Canary islands, Tsunami or otherwise.
  2. A Cro-Magnon race with many affinities to a Sahara version of the Azilian-or Southern Spain cultural complex. Relating this to glyph body art introduced in some cases out of nowhere as well as the Cro Magnons. Introduction-spear or trident as one of there fishing symbols i.e. used usually for smaller fish. As a Hunter and Gatherer stage out of lack of choice in moving from catastrophes.
  3. Fear of Dogs as a irrational blame on the Flood as a Dog indicated as the Harbringer of the tragedy in a celestial implication? As related to many world wide flood myths of a dog or fox gone astray from is position or stage.

And the last criteria, the in terraced walls, and concentric linings a very early stage of neolithic and Mesolithic practices that preclude the advent of pyramids.

We could say that to this day the Canary Islands are still culturally, and possibly linguistically the best visible (above the surface of the Ocean) view of what parts of Atlantis according to Plato were like, especially in a post flood sense of conditions for man. It is also likely that since man does not seem to appear to exist on the Canaries before 15,000 B.C. that these had more common escapees then aristocratic survivors

But who managed to keep a certain kind of Atlantean like Canton Government (noted by Plato) found in regions of Cro-Magnons of 'a King of the Sun', or 'Twin Celestial Kings' to each provincial canton in the Canaries. Ironically, when the Egyptian-Phoenicians arrived I am sure they were shocked to find a similar government was already in place????

As you all know this only deepens the mystery of Herodotus's maps-

 

Traces of Atlantis in Peru, By Karola Siebert 1965

 

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