We can find the La Zarza and La Zarcita rock inscriptions at an atlitude where the fayal brezal (heather) forest merges into the pine wood. They are located at an altitude of 1000m above the sea level, between La Mata and Llano Negro. The former is inside a big cave and the latter is on the left of the La Zarcita ravine, not far away from La Zarza.
A.Mata and E.Serra discovered these rock inscriptions in 1941, and this was the start of scientific investigation of caves on the island.
The most spectacular things about La Zarza are the inscriptions, both for the sheer number (29 panels) and their complexity. The ones at La Zarzita are fewer (18) and less complex. There are more archaeological cave sites scattered around Garafía, either between 200 m and 1,100 m or above 1,800 m.
There are four motifs used: spirals, circles, meanders and straight lines, but these motifs are combined in an extraordinary variety of ways. Looking at the location of these inscriptions, the drawings and the economy of the auaritas, most experts feel they were carved to appease the gods and maintain or restore good weather.
On the right hand side of the Barlovento-Garafía road, 1km after the turn off to San Antonio del Monte.
922 695 005
922 690 074
Mo-Sa 10-18, Sun 10-15
