Guanches

The Guanches were the indigenous Berber-speaking inhabitants of the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa. They inhabited the main islands Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and later were present in smaller numbers on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Their language belonged to the Berber branch of the Afroasiatic family, but it is no longer spoken as a distinct language; only a limited assortment of vocabulary survives in place names and in the historical record.

Society among the Guanches was organized into tribal or regional groups, often led by a mencey or king on each island. They practiced agriculture and animal husbandry, cultivating cereals such as barley and millet, figs, and grapes, and keeping goats and sheep. They built stone structures, caves, and terraces for living and storage and relied on the sea and coastal resources for food. Everyday life also included craft traditions such as pottery and weaving, and they used mummification and burial practices that reflected their religious beliefs.

Religion was polytheistic, with a pantheon that varied by island but commonly recognized a supreme god, Achamán, and a mother goddess, Chaxiraxi, among other deities and ancestral spirits. Rituals and shrines were integrated into community life and burial sites.

The Guanches suffered a dramatic decline after the Castilian conquest of the Canary Islands, which began in 1402 and culminated in the late 15th century. Population losses came from disease, warfare, and enslavement, and many Guanches were transported to mainland Spain or intermarried with Europeans. In the present day, descendants of the Guanches live in the Canary Islands, where genetic, toponymic, and cultural remnants reflect their ancient presence.