🏠 How Did the Majo People Live?

Life on Lanzarote was shaped by the island's harsh climate. The Majo people had to cope with scarce fresh water, limited vegetation, and strong Atlantic winds. They relied mainly on raising goats and sheep, fishing, and simple farming. Most everyday objects were made by hand from stone, clay, wood, animal hides, and bones.

🏡 Homes

The Majo people lived in small houses built from local volcanic stone. The walls were constructed from large lava rocks without mortar, while the roofs were made of wooden beams, branches, and animal hides or vegetation. The entrances were low, helping to reduce the impact of strong winds and maintain a more stable temperature inside. Around the houses, stone walls often protected both people and livestock from the wind, and small enclosures were built for goats.

🐐 Livestock

Goats and sheep were the most important animals, as they were well adapted to Lanzarote's dry climate. They provided milk, meat, and hides, which were used to make clothing and a variety of everyday items. The animals grazed on natural pastures during the day and were sheltered in stone enclosures at night. Livestock farming was the main source of livelihood for most families.

🌾 Gofio

The staple food of the Majo people was gofio, a flour made from roasted barley or wheat. The grain was ground by hand using stone mills, and the flour was mixed with water, goat's milk, or animal fat. Nutritious and easy to store, gofio formed the basis of the Majo diet. Even today, it remains one of the most iconic foods of the Canary Islands.

🏺 Pottery

The Majo people made pottery by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel. They produced pots, bowls, and jugs used for storing food, cooking, and carrying water. Some vessels were decorated with simple incised patterns and geometric designs. Today, this handmade pottery is among the most valuable archaeological discoveries on Lanzarote.

🐟 Fishing

The island's inhabitants made full use of the rich marine resources surrounding Lanzarote. They caught fish and collected shellfish, sea snails, and crustaceans to supplement their diet. Large shell middens found along the coast provide evidence of regular fishing and shellfish gathering. Fishing was an important complement to livestock farming and agriculture.

👕 Clothing

Clothing was made primarily from goat and sheep hides. The hides were cleaned, tanned, and sewn together with leather thongs to create simple tunics, cloaks, and garments that protected against the sun and strong winds. Many items of clothing were assembled from irregularly shaped pieces of hide, making practical use of the available materials. Outfits were often complemented with ornaments made from shells, bones, and stone, serving both decorative and symbolic purposes.

👑 Majo Society

Majo society was well organized and built around families and local communities. At its head was a ruler, but respected elders also played an important role by passing on knowledge and helping to make important decisions. Most people were engaged in livestock farming, agriculture, fishing, and craftsmanship.

👨‍👩‍👧 Families

The family was the foundation of Majo society, with all members working together and sharing everyday responsibilities. From an early age, children learned the skills practiced by adults, preparing them for life on the island. Cooperation among family members was essential for survival in Lanzarote's challenging environment.

👑 Guanareme

The community was led by the guanareme, the ruler of the island or part of it. He oversaw the most important matters, settled disputes, and represented the people in relations with other communities. Historical sources indicate that Lanzarote had its own guanareme when the first Europeans arrived.

👵 Elders

The elders were highly respected within Majo society. Their experience made them trusted advisors, and they passed on knowledge about livestock farming, customs, and traditions to younger generations. Their opinions carried great weight when decisions affecting the entire community had to be made.

👩 The Role of Women

Women were primarily responsible for running the household, preparing food, caring for children, and making pottery and clothing. They also took part in livestock farming and food processing. Researchers believe that women played an important role in everyday community life, although the available historical evidence does not allow the full division of responsibilities to be reconstructed.

🙏 The Beliefs of the Majo People

The religion of the Majo people was closely connected to nature and the cycle of life. The sun, the moon, mountains, and remarkable places within the island's landscape all played an important role in their beliefs. Some aspects of their religion are known from historical chronicles, while others have been reconstructed by archaeologists based on their discoveries.

☀️ The Sun

The Sun was probably one of the most important symbols in Majo beliefs. It marked the rhythm of the day, the changing seasons, and the agricultural and pastoral calendar. Some ceremonial sites may have been aligned with the sunrise and sunset.

🌙 The Moon

The Moon also held an important place in the beliefs of the island's inhabitants. It may have been used to mark the passage of time and could have influenced certain ceremonies and aspects of daily life. However, no written sources have survived that allow its exact significance to be determined.

⛰ Mountains

Volcanic cones and distinctive hills may have been regarded as sacred or special places. Their dominant presence in the landscape suggests that they were probably associated with the forces of nature and the spiritual world.

👣 Podomorphs

Podomorphs—rock carvings depicting human footprints—are among the most mysterious archaeological remains on Lanzarote. Researchers believe they may have marked sacred places, ceremonial routes, or held symbolic meaning. Their exact purpose remains unknown to this day.

🪨 Queseras

Queseras are stone structures whose purpose continues to be debated by archaeologists. Some researchers believe they were used to observe the Sun and mark important times of the year, while others suggest they may have been connected with religious ceremonies. Their exact function has not yet been conclusively established.

🏺 What Remains of the Majo People?

Although hundreds of years have passed since the time of the Majo people, traces of their presence can still be found across Lanzarote. Archaeologists continue to uncover the remains of ancient settlements, houses, pottery, tools, and sites associated with the beliefs of the island's first inhabitants. These discoveries have given us valuable insight into their daily life and culture. However, many archaeological sites are not open to the public or lie away from the main tourist routes.

📖 Learn More...

In the guidebook "Lanzarote with César Manrique", you'll find detailed descriptions of archaeological sites connected with the Majo people, along with directions, GPS coordinates, and practical information about which sites can still be visited today.

The Majo People of Lanzarote – Who Were the Island's First Inhabitants?

Just two thousand years ago, Lanzarote was an uninhabited volcanic island on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. At a time when the Roman Empire was flourishing, the island's first settlers – the Majo people – arrived. For more than a thousand years, they developed their own unique culture, perfectly adapted to life in a harsh landscape with very little fresh water. Who were they? Where did they come from? How did they live, and why do so many questions about their history remain unanswered today?

📖 Learn more...

The story of the Majo people does not end at Zonzamas. In the guidebook "Lanzarote with César Manrique", I take you to the places connected with the island's first inhabitants, show you where to find them, how to get there, and what to look out for during your visit.

🏺Who Were the Majo People?

The Majo people (Spanish: Majos) were the first permanent inhabitants of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. They most likely arrived on the islands between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD and, for more than a thousand years, developed a culture perfectly adapted to life in the dry volcanic landscape. They found Lanzarote uninhabited and made the island their home.

For many years, all the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands were collectively referred to as the Guanches. Today, however, it is known that this is not accurate. The Guanches were the native people of Tenerife, while the indigenous inhabitants of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are known as the Majo people. Although all of these communities shared Amazigh (Berber) ancestry, they developed independently over the centuries, creating their own customs, dialects, and social structures.

Archaeological discoveries, DNA analyses, and ancient inscriptions indicate that the ancestors of the Majo people originated from the Amazigh (Berber) peoples of northwestern Africa. However, it is still unknown who organized their journey to Lanzarote or why they chose this small volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean.

📌 Remember

🏺 The Majo people were the first permanent inhabitants of Lanzarote.

🌍 They arrived on the island around the 1st–3rd centuries AD.

⏳ They lived on Lanzarote for more than 1,000 years, until the Norman conquest in the 15th century.

🧬 Their ancestors came from the Amazigh (Berber) peoples of northwestern Africa.

❌ The term "Guanches" does not refer to the indigenous people of Lanzarote. It applies specifically to the native inhabitants of Tenerife.

🌍 Where Did the Majo People Come From?

One of the most frequently asked questions about the first inhabitants of Lanzarote is: Where did the Majo people come from? Until just a few decades ago, there were many theories—ranging from the legend of Atlantis to claims that they were descended from the Phoenicians or the Carthaginians. Today, thanks to archaeological research, DNA analysis, and linguistic studies, we have answers to some of these questions. However, several mysteries still remain unsolved.

✅ What Do We Know for Certain?

🌍 The Ancestors of the Majo People Came from Northwestern Africa

Modern research shows that the ancestors of the Majo people were Amazigh (Berber) communities living in what is now Morocco and parts of Algeria. This is supported by DNA studies, archaeological discoveries, linguistic similarities, and inscriptions written in the Libyco-Berber alphabet found throughout the Canary Islands.

⛵ They Reached Lanzarote by Sea

Although it may seem obvious today, crossing more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of open ocean around 2,000 years ago was an extraordinary challenge. This means that the first settlers must have possessed suitable seafaring vessels as well as the navigation skills needed to make the journey successfully.

❓ What Still Remains a Mystery?

🗺️ Which Part of Africa Did They Come From?

Although most researchers agree that the Majo people's ancestors came from northwestern Africa, the exact region from which the colonization of Lanzarote began remains unknown. It is also unclear whether the island was settled during a single voyage or through several waves of migration.

⚓ Who Organized the Voyage?

This is one of the greatest mysteries in the archaeology of the Canary Islands.

Several theories have been proposed. According to one, the Amazigh (Berbers) reached the islands on their own using their own boats. Other researchers suggest that the voyages may have been organized or assisted by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, or even the Romans, who were already familiar with the Atlantic Ocean and sailed along the northwest coast of Africa.

So far, however, none of these theories has been conclusively proven.

🚤 Why Did They Lose Their Seafaring Skills?

This is perhaps the greatest mystery of all.

If the ancestors of the Majo people reached Lanzarote by sea, why, when Europeans arrived in the 15th century, did the islanders no longer possess boats capable of sailing between the Canary Islands?

To this day, no one knows whether this knowledge was deliberately abandoned, gradually forgotten over the centuries, or simply became unnecessary.

💡 Did You Know?

For many years, some researchers believed that the Canary Islands had been settled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, or even the legendary inhabitants of Atlantis. Modern archaeological and genetic research has rejected most of these theories. Today, scientists agree that the first inhabitants of Lanzarote descended from Amazigh (Berber) peoples of northwestern Africa. However, it is still unknown who organized their voyage across the Atlantic and why they chose to settle on this particular island.

What Do Scientists Think?

Today, researchers are considering several possible explanations.

🌿 Searching for New Land to Settle

This is currently one of the most widely accepted theories.

At the time, Lanzarote was completely uninhabited. For a small group of pastoralists, the island may have seemed an attractive place to settle, offering open land, opportunities to raise goats and sheep, and access to rich marine resources.

However, life on the island was far from easy. There was very little fresh water and almost no timber, so the settlers had to learn how to make the most of the harsh volcanic environment.

⛵ An Organized Colonization

Some researchers believe that the Amazigh (Berbers) did not reach the Canary Islands entirely on their own.

Since the Phoenicians (earlier), followed by the Carthaginians and later the Romans, were familiar with the northwestern coast of Africa, one theory suggests that they may have organized or assisted the first settlement voyages to the islands.

So far, however, no archaeological evidence has confirmed this hypothesis.

⚓ The Accidental Discovery of the Island

This is considered a much less likely explanation.

Crossing more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of open ocean required considerable seafaring skills and proper vessels. For this reason, most researchers believe that the settlement of Lanzarote was a deliberate undertaking, rather than the result of a boat drifting off course by chance.