A Mysterious Mark on the Rock
On September 4th, Jorge Pais, a Doctor of Prehistory from the University of La Laguna and head of the Historical and Archaeological Heritage Section of the La Palma Island Council, shared a photograph on his social media that sparked curiosity. He asked his followers what they saw in the image: “A Benahoarita rock carving, an optical illusion, or a geological whim?” The mystery has now been solved.
Technology Confirms an Ancient Artifact
Recent advancements in technology have confirmed that the figure, located in one of the island’s most visited archaeological zones, is a newly identified indigenous petroglyph. Pais recalls that the photo he shared at the beginning of last month “raised quite a few doubts for us because it could have been an optical effect or a trick of nature.” He now adds, “we can confirm that it is a Benahoarita rock carving thanks to the use of new technologies.”
The Archaeological Detective Work
The investigation required a keen eye and modern methods. Pais explains that on a subsequent visit to the site, they could not see the slightest trace of a spiral made with the pecking technique. To solve the puzzle, they enlisted the help of Alberto Felipe Gutiérrez, a native of El Paso and a recent archaeology graduate from the University of Granada. His final degree project, which earned a grade of 9.5, is titled ‘Application of Image Processing Techniques to the Study of Rock Carvings on the Island of La Palma’.
His work focused on two of the largest and most interesting petroglyph sites in ancient Benahoare (the Aboriginal name for La Palma): Lomo de Tamarahoya VI and Lomo Gordo I and II, located in the Pico Bejenao area of El Paso.
A Hidden Spiral Revealed
As Pais points out, the results were conclusive. “As you can see in two of his photos, taken on September 22nd, there is absolutely no doubt about the presence of a small spiral.” Over time, the proliferation of lichens had completely obscured the carving, making it invisible unless the lighting conditions were just right. In fact, Alberto had to visit the site on several occasions at different times of day to finally capture the definitive image that confirmed the petroglyph’s existence, a hidden treasure waiting for the right moment to be seen again.
