Necrópolis de Arteara

Necrópolis de Arteara is a pre-Hispanic Guanche burial site in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in southern Gran Canaria, set on the right bank of the Fataga ravine next to the small settlement of Arteara.

What is actually there?

The site holds more than 800 stone burial mounds, known as tumuli. The building material came from a rockfall off the nearby Morro Garito massif, which once scattered boulders across the area — the original islanders then reused those stones to raise the graves. As a result, the landscape today looks like a natural field of rocks with burial structures woven through it, rather than a conventional cemetery.

How old is the necropolis?

Dating work carried out at the site traces the earliest burials back to the 5th century BC. The ground was used continuously as a cemetery for roughly 2,500 years, making it one of the longest-running funerary sites on the island. That span points to the Fataga ravine area being settled by the aboriginal population from a very early point in Gran Canaria's prehistory, long before any European contact.

What is the central mound?

One burial mound stands out from the rest by its size, occupying a dominant position within the complex. Researchers associate it with a person of high social standing — possibly a local chieftain — which is why it is popularly referred to as the "king's tomb." Its scale and central placement suggest the whole necropolis was laid out around this single, distinguished burial.

Why is the site protected?

Necrópolis de Arteara holds the status of a Bien de Interés Cultural, the Spanish designation for a protected cultural heritage asset, equivalent to a historic-artistic monument. That protection reflects both its scale — it is the largest known aboriginal necropolis on Gran Canaria — and its value for reconstructing the funerary customs of the pre-Hispanic population, before the island came under Castilian rule.

How do you get there, and what should you know before visiting?

The necropolis sits inland, within the Fataga ravine, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana — the same municipality that includes the Maspalomas resort area. Reaching it generally requires a car or an organized excursion, since the site lies away from the main public transport routes. The ground is open and rocky, so sturdy footwear and sun protection are worth packing, as this part of the island runs hot for most of the year.

Frequently asked questions

What is Necrópolis de Arteara? A pre-Hispanic Guanche cemetery on Gran Canaria, made up of more than 800 stone burial mounds.

Where is the necropolis located? In the Fataga ravine, next to the settlement of Arteara, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in southern Gran Canaria.

Where did the stones used for the graves come from? From a rockfall off the Morro Garito massif, which covered the area in boulders that were later used to build the burial mounds.

Does the necropolis have a notable individual grave? Yes — the largest, central mound, linked to a person of high social rank and often called the "king's tomb."