The Canary Islands extends and expands the archaeological research agreement in San Marcial de Rubicón

The Official Gazette of the Canary Islands number 164, published on Monday, August 17, 2026, includes the Resolution of August 4, 2026 of the General Technical Secretariat, signed by María Dolores Alonso Álamo, ordering the publication of the Addendum extending and amending the Cooperation Agreement for archaeological research at the San Marcial de Rubicón Site, in the municipality of Yaiza, Lanzarote. The document (reference boc-a-2026-164-2959) was signed on August 3, 2026, by the four signatory parties and is incorporated as an annex to the original agreement.

Background: an agreement in force since 2022

The agreement whose extension is now published was initially signed on August 5, 2022, between the then Department of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports —now the Department of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture—, the Yaiza City Council, and the public universities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and La Laguna (ULL). It was published in BOC number 166, of August 23, 2022. Since its signing, the agreement has undergone two prior amendments through respective addenda signed on December 29, 2023, and July 31, 2025, which affected its third, fourth, and fifth clauses.

On May 19, 2026, the Agreement Monitoring Committee met and unanimously agreed to the signing of this new addendum, whose purpose is to ensure the continuity of the archaeological work being carried out at the site.

How the funding is divided: €200,000 for 2026 and 2027

The addendum establishes a fourth financial contribution from the Department of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, totaling €200,000, distributed as follows:

• €50,000 for the ULPGC in fiscal year 2026 and another €50,000 in 2027.
• €50,000 for the ULL in fiscal year 2026 and another €50,000 in 2027.

Payment will be made through the Directorate General of Culture and Cultural Heritage, charged to budget item 1707 337A 237G0356, entitled “Heritage Projects Canary Islands Universities.”

Extension of the term: two more years of research

The second clause of the addendum extends the validity of the agreement for an additional period of two years, so that its end date becomes August 5, 2028. The rest of the original clauses remain unchanged.

Signatories of the agreement

The addendum was electronically signed on August 3, 2026, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by the following representatives:

• Migdalia María Machín Tavío, Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, appointed by Decree 43/2023, of 14 July.
• Óscar Manuel Noda González, Mayor-President of the Yaiza City Council, by virtue of a Plenary agreement adopted in an extraordinary session on 6 July 2022.
• Luis Serra Majem, Rector of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), appointed by Decree 3/2025, of 17 January.
• Francisco Javier García Rodríguez, Rector of the University of La Laguna (ULL), appointed by Decree 30/2023, of 20 April.

Relevance to Canary Islands historical heritage

The extension and the injection of funds guarantee the continuity of an archaeological research project at one of the most significant sites in southern Lanzarote, of great value for the preservation of Canary Islands historical heritage. The collaboration between the regional administration, the municipality of Yaiza and both public Canary Islands universities reinforces the model of inter-institutional cooperation in cultural and scientific matters in the archipelago.

Source: Official Gazette of the Canary Islands No. 164, 17 August 2026, Section III “Other Resolutions” (official reference: boc-a-2026-164-2959).