Rome in the history of Fuerteventura

A finding that changed the history of the Canary Islands

In 2012, some visitors accidentally found remnants of Roman pottery on the Lobos Island, opposite Corralejo, north of Fuerteventura. Subsequent excavations confirmed something that had only been suspected until then: the Romans not only knew the Canary Islands but also settled in them, if only temporarily.

The site, known as Lobos 1, is the first documented Roman settlement in the archipelago. It dates back approximately to between the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D., during the time of Emperor Augustus.

A purple workshop

Lobos 1 was a workshop dedicated to obtaining purple, the most expensive dye of antiquity, which was extracted from marine mollusks. Archaeologists have found large accumulations of shells, remnants of bonfires, a paved floor, ceramics, and metal objects.

Everything indicates that it was a seasonal exploitation, linked to the purple workshops on the Atlantic coast of ancient Mauritania, in present-day Morocco, and trade with the Roman world. It is likely that this production is related to the so-called "Getulian purple," mentioned by classical authors.

Excavations continue

The work is being carried out in successive campaigns promoted by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, with the participation of the Museum of Nature and Archaeology of Tenerife and the University of La Laguna. In the last campaigns, thanks to ground-penetrating radar, it has been confirmed that Roman occupation extends beyond the initially excavated area.

Visit Lobos and Betancuria

Lobos Island is a protected natural space accessible by boat from Corralejo, and prior authorization is required to visit it. To learn more about the island's past, the Archaeological Museum of Fuerteventura, in Betancuria, is mainly dedicated to the mahos, the ancient inhabitants of the island.

You can see Fuerteventura live with our webcams of Fuerteventura.