Black Pyramids
In the town of Guimar you will find a national park containing the Black Pyramids of Tenerife. These mysterious structures are made from volcanic stone; whoever built them did not use any mortar, an achievement that will seem impossible when you study the pyramids. The rectangular, stepped and terraced structures are very impressive, particularly when you remember that fact!
It is simple to get to the Pyramids, as the park has its own bus service with convenient pick up points. You can take the park’s bus, a Guimar city bus or drive your own car to the area. You’ll find it an accommodating place to visit; it is handicapped accessible, has restrooms, a cafeteria, a shop, information center and a playground for restless children.
The Black Pyramids were largely unknown outside Tenerife until a reporter published a newspaper article in the early 1990’s. The article caught the attention of the famous explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who traveled to Guimar to study them. Dr. Heyerdahl noticed that these pyramids are similar to ones in Mexico, Polynesia, Peru and other places. Thanks to him, professional archaeologists began to study the Pyramids and concluded that they were built by the Guanche, the original inhabitants of the island.
The Black Pyramids, like similar structures around the world, are aligned to the summer and winter solstices. This was discovered by the Canary Islands’ Astrophysical Institute. The Archaeology Department of La Laguna University also conducted several studies. Underneath Pyramid 1, a cave was discovered that contained remains that carbon dating indicate were placed there between 680-1020 A.D. Thanks largely to that discovery, the Pyramids were saved from being bulldozed by developers who planned to built a shipping facility there.
Before Dr. Heyerdahl began his investigations and attracted archaeologists to the site, many people thought that the Pyramids were merely rock “dumps”. They theorized that farmers clearing the land for cultivation used the area as a central site for the rocks they removed. However, one look at the obviously planned construction will quickly disprove this particular theory. And after the carbon dating of the remains under Pyramid 1, the theory that they only date back to the 19th century has also been disproven.
There is much more to the park than the Pyramids; there are some very interesting exhibits as well. One exhibit is a display of crafts built by early men that could navigate the ocean between islands and even further. There is also a replica of Ra II, the craft used by Thor Heyerdahl on one of his many ocean voyages.
The Easter Island exhibition features life-sized photographs of the mysterious statues that populated a Polynesian island. The exhibit has traveled extensively, allowing people to see the fascinating statues. It also includes drawings and details of how the statues were probably moved into position.
There are also temporary exhibits that change frequently for the entertainment and education of both visitors and residents. You can also enjoy a beautiful garden filled with native plants that are labeled with both their common and scientific names.
It is simple to get to the Pyramids, as the park has its own bus service with convenient pick up points. You can take the park’s bus, a Guimar city bus or drive your own car to the area. You’ll find it an accommodating place to visit; it is handicapped accessible, has restrooms, a cafeteria, a shop, information center and a playground for restless children.
The Black Pyramids were largely unknown outside Tenerife until a reporter published a newspaper article in the early 1990’s. The article caught the attention of the famous explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who traveled to Guimar to study them. Dr. Heyerdahl noticed that these pyramids are similar to ones in Mexico, Polynesia, Peru and other places. Thanks to him, professional archaeologists began to study the Pyramids and concluded that they were built by the Guanche, the original inhabitants of the island.
The Black Pyramids, like similar structures around the world, are aligned to the summer and winter solstices. This was discovered by the Canary Islands’ Astrophysical Institute. The Archaeology Department of La Laguna University also conducted several studies. Underneath Pyramid 1, a cave was discovered that contained remains that carbon dating indicate were placed there between 680-1020 A.D. Thanks largely to that discovery, the Pyramids were saved from being bulldozed by developers who planned to built a shipping facility there.
Before Dr. Heyerdahl began his investigations and attracted archaeologists to the site, many people thought that the Pyramids were merely rock “dumps”. They theorized that farmers clearing the land for cultivation used the area as a central site for the rocks they removed. However, one look at the obviously planned construction will quickly disprove this particular theory. And after the carbon dating of the remains under Pyramid 1, the theory that they only date back to the 19th century has also been disproven.
There is much more to the park than the Pyramids; there are some very interesting exhibits as well. One exhibit is a display of crafts built by early men that could navigate the ocean between islands and even further. There is also a replica of Ra II, the craft used by Thor Heyerdahl on one of his many ocean voyages.
The Easter Island exhibition features life-sized photographs of the mysterious statues that populated a Polynesian island. The exhibit has traveled extensively, allowing people to see the fascinating statues. It also includes drawings and details of how the statues were probably moved into position.
There are also temporary exhibits that change frequently for the entertainment and education of both visitors and residents. You can also enjoy a beautiful garden filled with native plants that are labeled with both their common and scientific names.