Cave art and open-air art in the Canarian-Amazigh settlement of Birbique (Agaete, Gran Canaria). Discussion and proposal regarding their chronology

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive reassessment of the troglodyte site of Birbique, located in the northwest of Gran Canaria, based on detailed documentation of the rock art and its archaeological context. Through specialized methodologies—including photogrammetry, morpho-typological analysis, and comparison with insular repertoires—three rock art stations have been identified, whose engravings reveal at least three distinct cultural horizons. This proposal is grounded in a diachronic approach that integrates contextual, chronological, and comparative data, contributing to a more accurate interpretation of the site's occupational sequence. The evidence suggests an initial indigenous occupation possibly emerging between the 7th and 8th centuries, followed by a reoccupation from the 10th to 11th centuries, and a later phase during the Hispano-Canarian period. Furthermore, the coexistence of domestic, funerary, storage, and symbolic spaces supports the interpretation of Birbique as a complex settlement. Overall, this case study contributes to refining the insular archaeological periodization and strengthening current interpretative frameworks.