Cuevas del Rey

Cuevas del Rey is an archaeological and rural site in Tejeda, in the interior of Gran Canaria, located on the slope and immediate surroundings of the Roque of the same name, in the middle of the Tejeda caldera. It is a troglodyte complex excavated in volcanic tuff of reddish tones, with more than a hundred artificial cavities distributed in several levels and oriented mostly to the north face of the rock. The complex includes habitation caves, storage spaces and granaries, as well as burial cavities and other structures linked to cultural practices. The so-called Cueva del Rey or Cueva del Guayre stands out for its large size, rectangular or quadrangular floor plan and decoration painted in white, black and red, with bowls and channels in the floor; the granary area also stands out, with silos located at higher elevations and more difficult access. What can be seen today helps to understand how the ancient Canary Islanders took advantage of an abrupt relief to live, store cereal and organize their settlement with platforms and stairs carved into the rock. Because of this density and conservation, the enclave is among the most important pre-Hispanic settlements of the Gran Canarian summit. Its patrimonial interest is high: the Town Council of Tejeda includes it in the archaeological complex of the Sierra del Bentayga, declared of Cultural Interest, and also Roque Bentayga, Roque Camello and Cuevas del Rey are part of the Cultural Landscape of Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.