Abstract
The aim of this paper is a long-term examination of the history of the collecting of material culture and bio-anthropological remains from the Canary Islands ancient settlers since the 18th century onward. This traffic of objects was determined to a great extent by the presence of mummification in their funerary rites and by the academic controversy surrounding their ethnic origins. In relation to these facts, the text analyzes the different agents and the different interests involved in the knowledge and the international circulation of these objects formerly belonging to the so-called “guanches.” Finally, the current situation of this traffic and the latest cases of moving of mummies and other human remains from ancient Canary Islanders that are preserved in museums or collections will be addressed.
Highlights
Aunque ya en el siglo XV comienza a haber información, a partir del siglo XVIII el tráfico de restos humanos procedentes de yacimientos arqueológicos canarios llegó a tener un carácter internacional y algunos naturalistas radicados en las islas funcionaron como proveedores de las colecciones y museos europeos demandantes de cráneos y momias “atractivas”
El final del siglo XIX no supuso el fin de la costumbre de expoliar y coleccionar restos humanos procedentes de cuevas sepulcrales guanches por parte de particulares isleños y foráneos (Farrujia, 2014: 37-39)
En 2009 el Presidente del Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros de Tenerife, Francisco García-Talavera, firmó un Convenio de Colaboración con la Universidad Complutense para que los restos fueran estudiados y exhibidos por parte del Organismo Autónomo (Rodríguez Martín y González Antón, 2010: 218)
Summary
Commerce and collecting of archeological remains from the Canary Islands.- The aim of this paper is a long-term examination of the history of the collecting of material culture and bio-anthropological remains from the Canary Islands ancient settlers since the 18th century onward This traffic of objects was determined to a great extent by the presence of mummification in their funerary rites and by the academic controversy surrounding their ethnic origins. 2 Carmen Ortiz García de una notable nómina de escritos y fueron el centro de continuas controversias acerca de su conformación natural, su historia cultural y los orígenes y caracteres de las poblaciones anteriores a la conquista por los europeos. Civilizando, derriba y destroza, y en el mar de sangre derramado por nuestros padres es agradable y consolador salvar algún retazo de tantas memorias perdidas (Mantegazza, 2004: 100)
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