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What to see in Fuerteventura ?
Poblado de la Atalayita
Jan
The Poblado de la Atalayita is one of those places that you cannot miss on a visit to Fuerteventura. In addition, from the beginning of 2021, we will see it somewhat more tidy than what it had been showing until then.
What is the Atalayita Town?
The Poblado de la Atalayita is one of the most important and unique archaeological sites in Fuerteventura. It is an ancient settlement, where the Mahos aborigines lived before the Franco-Norman conquest, at the beginning of the 15th century.
Where is the Atalayita Town?
The Poblado de la Atalayita archaeological site is located on the right bank of the Pozo Negro Valley, in the middle of the badlands and a couple of kilometers from the coastal town of Pozo Negro, in the municipality of Antigua.
What can we see in the Poblado de la Atalayita?
Currently, the Atalayita site is a reconstruction of the old aboriginal settlement that was active, in this same enclave, when the conquest of Fuerteventura began. It gives us an idea, quite reliable, of the housing solutions that the mahos gave to get to live in the badlands.
After European domination, the town was abandoned, but many of its structures continued to be used by shepherds until a few decades ago.
The visit to La Atalayita begins after passing near the recreation of a traditional Majorera house. From here our steps will lead to a main street with several forks. In this area, measuring 45,000 square meters, we will have the opportunity to discover more than a hundred homes, of various types.
The first thing that catches our attention, when entering this small village, is that the houses are very low and are built in dry stone, that is, they do not have any type of mortar that joins the masonry that form them.
Small domed structures are the most numerous. They look like igloos. They are circular or elliptical in shape, just under two meters in diameter and no more than one and a half meters high. The interior is narrow, the entrance bays are narrow and low. The ground is lower than “street” level.
The ceilings are formed by false vaults, made by the approximation of successive courses of large and flat stones. The gaps between the stones are filled with other smaller ones that, in addition, help to waterproof the cabin
You will also be able to see other larger structures, made up of several outbuildings that open onto a central space. The entrance openings in this type of housing are wider
In addition, the Mahos used the volcanic caves that were formed in the Malpaís as a home. In La Atalayita you will see a clear example of this
Why is this deposit called the Atalayita?
The name of the Atalayita (small atalaya ,which means watchtower) is given by the nearby elevation, which rises up to 90 meters in altitude and which served the aborigines as a place of control and surveillance of the territory. From its top they saw if any boat was approaching, in order to sound the alarm.
Why did the mahos choose this enclave to settle?
Everyone can see that the badlands are uncomfortable and slow to move around. Anyone who has walked on that type of ground will have experienced the craving of it to devour shoes. Living here didn’t have to be easy. However, the poor country of Pozo Negro has several pros. Let’s see which ones:
- It is located in a strategic place only 3 kilometers from the sea, where the mahos could collect limpets, burgados, and even fish.
- Just above the town of La Atalayita, there is a historical spring, the source of Riche-Roche, from which water continues to flow today. This spring provided enough drinking water to supply the small population of La Atalayita.
- When it rains, good pastures are generated around the badlands, essential food for the abundant goat herd that the aborigines had.
- A short distance from the badlands there is a wide area where there was a shrimp for goats. This shrimp still exists, it is found near Pozo Negro.
- The houses built in the badlands perfectly blend in with the surroundings. Even being a few meters away it is difficult to see them.
- The fact of being bordering a ravine provided them with a quick escape route towards the interior, in case of an enemy attack.
- The mahos were used to walking through the badlands, and they advanced faster than their enemies, dressed in heavy armor, spears and all kinds of equipment not recommended for such a wild place.
All these advantages also have the contiguous ravine, and were used by the mahos, to build another settlement.
How much does the visit to the Atalayita Town cost?
Visiting the town of La Atalayita is free. It had an interpretation center of the site, today abandoned. We hope that this center will soon become adequate and that it can be visited.
Is there any kind of service in the Poblado de la Atalayita?
Yes, the Poblado de la Atalayita has a large parking lot. It has also covered tables and seats, where you can eat quite comfortably. Without a doubt, this is a good place to spend the morning with the family, especially if you have children who want to explore and learn about the history, ethnography and ancient culture of the Mahos.
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