Hannibal
was here
Rock inscriptions on the Canary islands
Werner Pichler
Nowadays it is common practice all over the world to commercialise the pre- and
early history of indigenous people. In this field the tourist managers of the
Canary islands have no easy task: no Stonehenge, no giant pyramids, no amphitheatre,
no Palaeolithic cave with marvellous paintings.
What to do in face of a lack of such archaeological attractions? It is a well
established tourist concept to resort to promoting local ancient myths.
Therefore the obvious thing to do is to highlight the numerous Atlantic myths
and sagas, which have grown up around the Canary islands: for instance, the "island
of the blessed", relicts of the sunken Atlantis, the "Elysian fields"
with their heavenly landscape and eternal spring. The managers of "theme
parks" have heard the message: a mysterious, mythical past is conjured up
- and yet it is possible to include the Canary islands into the collection of
the "greatest mysteries of the world", "the magical places of Europe"
etc.
The actual facts about Canary islands' pre-history may be disappointing for the
average visitor to the archipelago. A lot of questions concerning the history
of early settlement are unresolved until now.
There are still too few artefacts available which have been precisely dated using
scientific methods to be able to establish an accurate timeline with regards to
the Canary islands' pre-history. There are some strong indications that there
was a first wave of immigration as early as the 2nd or 3rd millennium B.C., but
final proof is still lacking. Presumably these people belonged to the Cro-Magnon
type and brought some elements of the megalithic cultures from SW-Europe to the
islands.
