THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE „RISCO CAÍDO AND THE SACRED MOUNTAINS OF GRAN CANARIA‟: A PARADIGMATIC PROPOSAL WITHIN UNESCO “ASTRONOMY AND WORLD HERITAGE” INITIATIVE

Abstract

The island of Gran canaria in the Canarian Archipelago is characterized by the presence of sanctuaries at the

top of significant mountains and on the scarps of the huge volcanic calderas of the island (the so-called

almogarenes) where particular rituals took place at precise moments of the year. In particular, the area of the

Caldera de Tejeda presents a paradigmatic example of an adaptive process to a harsh but attractive

environment, offering an excellent horizon, with impressive natural monuments such as the Roques

Bentayga and Nublo acting as reference landmarks, where land- and skyscapes could be in close contact and

permanent interaction. This chain of facts suggests it as the perfect location for a Cultural Landscape

interconnected with the sky which might be defended within UNESCO and IAU Astronomy and World

Heritage Initiative. The recently discovered light and shadow effects at Risco Caído are indeed a highlight

within this particular context. In Gran Canaria, dedicated fieldwork strongly suggests that most of the high

mountain sanctuaries could be related with solar and lunar observations and, probably, astral cults. After

presenting a wider cultural context of sites arorund Spain and the world, this paper will show how Gran

Canaria ought to be considered as an excellent laboratory where the close relationship between land- and

skyscapes in human culture can be illustrated; and how the area selected within the island is a paradigm,

within this particular framework, as a marvellous example of a Cultural Landscape worth being declared as

World Heritage.