El Maipés Necropolis

El Maipés is a burial ground with roughly 700 tombs spread across volcanic terrain on Gran Canaria's northern coast. The site shows different construction methods, ranging from simple stone structures to large earthen mounds.

The necropolis developed between the 8th and 10th centuries as the burial place of the indigenous Canarian people. It was actively used before Spanish colonization arrived.

The different tomb shapes show how the ancient Canarians organized their society. Some graves are simple stone rings, while others are large cone-shaped mounds, indicating different social positions.

The grounds are relatively open and can be explored on foot, though sturdy shoes are helpful on the volcanic terrain. There is an exhibition area onsite that provides basic information about the site.

Several bodies were found outside the cemetery walls, suggesting that certain individuals were buried separately from others. This reveals complex social rules in ancient Canarian society that went beyond normal burial practices.