A Lunisolar Prehistoric Calendar in Lanzarote Island: "La Quesera" (Cheeseboard) from Zonzamas

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Latin" rock scripts were discovered 30 years ago in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura Islands (Canary Islands). However, they are an incised linear writing which lacks Q, H, P and T frequent Latin letters and translation into Latin has not been possible. A transcription and a translation hypothesis was proposed long ago because scripts were almost identical to those of the Iberian semi-syllabary which was used in Iberia and France during first millennium BC; "Latin" scripts were named "Iberian-Guanche" and were mostly religious and funerary. This type of lineal incise writing is present in all seven Canary Islands and they may have been unnoticed because all other islands except Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are humid and covered by vegetation. This type of linear writings are, like Iberian, similar to Runes (Atlantic and Central Europe),Old Italian scripts (Raetian, Venetic, Lepontic, Etruscan) and Sitovo and Gradeshnistsa scripts (Bulgaria, 5 th millennium BC). Language behind Iberian-Guanche scripts might be related to both Berber and Old Basque languages. People who wrote "Iberian-Guanche" inscriptions seem to be Canary Island inhabitants and not visitors. Genes (people) of present and past Canary Islanders are difficult only to assign to North Africa because gene flow between North Africa and Iberia existed in prehistoric times and it is difficult to distinguish Iberian and North African with Canarian gene profiles. Genetics by itself is not sufficient for relating people or specific for geography, this is firmly demonstrated for mitochondrial genes. Linguistics, Culture, and Archaeology are necessary to interpret population genetics data. Extant pyramids in North Africa, Western Sahara and possibly Tenerife, existence of prehistoric artifacts and rock calendars ("Quesera"/Cheeseborad lunisolar calendar at Lanzarote and others at Gran Canaria Island) and presence of Cart-Ruts on Lanzarote volcano tops, may indicate an older date for Canarian prehistory than that of Punic/Roman presence. Finally Canarian prehistoric findings have been long neglected and forgotten but a common Iberian-Guanche rock writing culture existed in Canary Islands.

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Latín” rock scripts in Canary Islands are ancient Iberian inscriptions (Iberian-Guanche) A story of forgotten genetics, scripts, pyramids and other prehistoric artifacts

Arnaiz‐Villena¹,

López‐Nares²,

Juárez³

et al. 2019

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“…Also, Canarian prehistory should in part be interpreted in the context of Megalithic Atlantic culture (Arnaiz-Villena et al, 2015Medina & Arnaiz-Villena, 2018). In addition, a lunisolar calendar has been found in Lanzarote Island, Canary Is, "La Quesera"/Cheeseboard of Zonzamas (Medina and Arnaiz-Villena, 2018); volcanic Canary Islands (Spain) are placed in front of Moroccan Coast Figs 1, 2Prehistoric Atlantic petroglyphs, mummifications, pyramids and possible megalithic buildings have been found (Medina and Arnaiz-Villena, 2018), particularly this lunisolar calendar "Cheeseboard" of Zonzamas in Lanzarote Island. However, archaeological dating based on absolute objective methods are greatly lacking in Canary Islands archaeological patrimony (Atoche Peña & Ramirez Rodriguez, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, genetic differences between Western Mediterraneans and North West Africans are scanty (Arnaiz-Villena et al, 2015Hajjej et al, 2018) because prehistoric Atlantic Europe, North African and Canary Islands belong to related cultural and genetic group (Arnaiz-Villena et al, 2017). Also, Canarian prehistory should in part be interpreted in the context of Megalithic Atlantic culture (Arnaiz-Villena et al, 2015Medina & Arnaiz-Villena, 2018). In addition, a lunisolar calendar has been found in Lanzarote Island, Canary Is, "La Quesera"/Cheeseboard of Zonzamas (Medina and Arnaiz-Villena, 2018); volcanic Canary Islands (Spain) are placed in front of Moroccan Coast Figs 1, 2Prehistoric Atlantic petroglyphs, mummifications, pyramids and possible megalithic buildings have been found (Medina and Arnaiz-Villena, 2018), particularly this lunisolar calendar "Cheeseboard" of Zonzamas in Lanzarote Island.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The moon: in prehistoric lunisolar rock calendar “quesera” cheeseboard- at Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

Medina¹,

Arnaiz‐Villena²

2018

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This present paper is an integral part of another paper which completes the work (Int. J. Mod. Anthrop., 2018, 2:147-161). This part is about Moonrise observations and calculations which have been found from Cheeseboard/"Quesera" monument at Lanzarote Island in Zonzamas archaeological area in Canary Islands (Spain). This present paper shows that both a Sun calendar and a Moon calendar adjusted to fit into 29 or 30 solar days months are represented within this Lanzarote prehistoric monument. Age of built is not calculated by absolute methods, but other archaeological items throughout Lanzarote have been dated by C14, between 2nd/1st millennium BC. Genetic, cultural Atlantic and Mediterranean Megalithism and other archaeological / cultural traits suggest that this Cheeseboard/"Quesera" may be included in a Megalithic/Bronze Age context which may not be coincidental with this Age in other areas. However, megalithic findings in other Macaronesia Islands (Azores, Madeira, Selvagens) strongly suggest that Canary Islands may also have megalithic culture artifacts. It is possible that people massive emigration that occurred after Sahara desiccation may have also reached Canary Islands in addition to Western Europe and other areas and they may be related to these monument builders. Rock carved strips and ridges, "car-ruts" (megalithic in Malta) which occur in Azores, Lanzarote, Malta Islands, Turkey, Iberia and other World areas, supports a common and ancient culture origin. In any case, builders are more ancient than those who may have received Punic or Roman influence.

Malta and Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) cart-ruts and rock prehistoric calendar at Zonzamas, Lanzarote -"Quesera"/Cheeseboard

Arnaiz‐Villena¹,

Medina²,

Palacio-Grüber³

et al. 2018

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It is noticed that the abundant Malta cart-ruts fabrication by different cut shape in rocks is similar to "Quesera"/Cheeseboard Lanzarote rock prehistoric lunisolar calendar building. Even more, some Malta cart-ruts associated structures are similar to this Lanzarote rock calendar. Cart-ruts are hand made artifacts that in Malta started to be built up at Bronze Age; at present, they may be found throughout all Mediterranean area (North and South) and also in Atlantic islands, including Lanzarote, as described in this paper, British Islands and Azores. Rock calendar-like structures in Malta are associated to cart-ruts; we have analyzed those at San Gwan, Ta Cenc and San Pawl tat-Targa. It is uncertain whether they might have been used as calendars. Cart-rut purposes have been debated. Some of them may be associated to water collection, but their use to bear vehicles is not credible for many of them are constructed on steep hills, or even top of mountains, and with no sign of vehicles or living beings close to them. We put forward an astronomical /religious purpose for some of them to measure time and directions (space), like most Malta temples do have, i.e.: main door oriented to South, Summer Solstice marking and a Sun calendar throughout 12 months starting June 21st (Mnajdra and Hagar Qim temples). Search of a universal purpose for all extant cart-ruts in all areas, which are time stratified, is not a right approach for us.