The work, titled Las Cumbres del Guayadeque. Toponimia e historia familiar (The Peaks of Guayadeque. Toponymy and Family History), is the result of an exhaustive research project led by a genealogist and a historian. This study claims that the municipality of Valsequillo allegedly appropriated the peaks of the Guayadeque ravine, which historically belonged to Agüimes and Ingenio, in 1890, with the presumed 'connivance' of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
The investigation is based on geographical knowledge and historical documentation, including judicial records from 1691 that delimited the episcopal fiefdom. According to the study, the boundaries of Agüimes and Ingenio should extend to Montaña de los Bizcochos and Paredones de los Frailes, located near Pico de la Gorra, where a watchtower stands.
“"In the 16th century, no one lived in the ravine."
In addition to the territorial dispute, the book explores the toponymy of the ravine, proposing that the name Guayadeque could mean 'the river of the dark spring' in the Berber language, referring to the abundance of water 500 years ago. It also analyzes Castilian-origin toponyms, such as Barafonso or Las Tierras, which reflect the presence of settlers after the conquest.
The work also details that, after the conquest, the Guayadeque ravine was depopulated of indigenous people, being repopulated in the 17th century by families such as the López and the Cazorla, who initially settled in the upper areas before descending to the riverbed in the 18th century. The cover illustration of the book, a reinterpretation of pre-Hispanic engravings, adds an artistic and cultural element to this deep exploration of local history.
The official book presentation will take place on May 14, at 7:00 PM, in the Plenary Hall of Agüimes Town Hall, and will include a musical performance.
