The Fuerteventura Archaeological Museum paid tribute this Wednesday to Dolores Sánchez Velázquez, a researcher linked to the study of Majorero archaeology, particularly the Cueva de Villaverde. The event focused on the reception of documentation from her archaeological campaigns, which will now be safeguarded by the General Insular Archive.
The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Rayco León, and Antigua Sánchez, representing the family, signed the reception act. León emphasized the importance of "preserving the memory of Dolores Sánchez and ensuring that the knowledge generated over decades of work can continue to be consulted, studied, and passed on to future generations".
Carmen Lola Sánchez, a family representative, described the recognition as "very deserved and beautiful," highlighting the "affection and enthusiasm" with which Dolores Sánchez and her team worked at the Cueva de Villaverde.
The documentary collection covers excavation campaigns carried out at the Cueva de Villaverde between 1979 and 1988. It includes plans, excavation diaries, reports, work results, and studies of materials found. Documents also include a report on the excavations and the work 'Fuerteventura: state of the question with special reference to the Cueva de Villaverde'.
The graphic documentation is particularly significant, featuring 613 photographs (black and white and color), 125 slides, and negatives. Additionally, there are 108 folios of original drawings from 1987 and 1988, detailing ceramics, lithic and bone industry, and shells.
The event included a round table discussion with Isidoro Hernández Sánchez (Director of the Archaeological Museum), Teresa Gómez Espinosa (Art Historian and archaeologist), Ángel Sánchez Hortelano and Rosa López Guerrero (archaeologists), and Antigua Sánchez Velázquez (family representative). The discussion delved into Sánchez Velázquez's career and the significance of her legacy.
Teresa Gómez Espinosa highlighted that "Dolores Sánchez was the first Majorero archaeologist and a pioneering woman in this field," marking a milestone in the archaeological research of Fuerteventura.
The meeting also served to advocate for the value of preserving and making available to future generations the documentation generated over decades of archaeological research in Fuerteventura, especially that linked to key sites for understanding the island's pre-Hispanic past.
