On the rugged slopes of the Canary Islands, beneath the sharp winds and blazing sun, lies a story that has waited nearly 2,000 years to be told. It is not carved in stone or painted on cave walls, but hidden in the smallest of places—inside the DNA of humble lentils. These tiny seeds, once tucked away in silos carved into volcanic rock, have endured the passage of centuries to whisper secrets of human resilience, survival, and cultural memory.
Recently, researchers from Linköping University in Sweden and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain have brought these voices from the past back to life. Their groundbreaking study—one of the very first to analyze DNA from archaeological legumes—shows that lentils currently grown in the Canary Islands are directly descended from those cultivated nearly two millennia ago.
A Harvest Preserved for Centuries
The indigenous people of Gran Canaria understood that survival on an island demanded foresight. More than a thousand years ago, they carved grain silos directly into the volcanic bedrock, often in remote and difficult-to-reach places. These were not only practical storerooms but also lifelines, preserving food for times of scarcity.
Some of the seeds, remarkably, never made it to the cooking pot. Locked away in darkness, shielded from the elements, their DNA lay dormant for centuries. The arid climate and protective rock created near-perfect conditions, ensuring that the genetic material of these ancient crops could endure until modern science was ready to uncover their story.
Following the Genetic Trail
The research team compared DNA extracted from lentils found in these ancient silos with varieties currently grown across the Canary Islands, Spain, and Morocco. The results were astonishing: many of today’s Canarian lentils are direct descendants of those carried to the islands from North Africa in the 200s.
This discovery rewrites part of the islands’ agricultural history. Although European explorers arriving in the 1300s made note of local farming practices, they did not mention lentils. Yet the genetic evidence proves that lentils were already deeply rooted in Canarian agriculture long before European contact.
As Dr. Jenny Hagenblad, the study’s lead researcher, explains, “The same type of lentils has been cultivated for almost 2,000 years in the Canary Islands. This is remarkable, especially considering how the indigenous population was diminished after European conquest. It seems the new settlers recognized the value of these crops and continued to grow them.”
The Role of Women in Preserving Knowledge
The endurance of Canarian lentils may owe as much to cultural memory as to environmental adaptation. Researchers suggest that indigenous women—who often married newcomers after the islands’ colonization—played a pivotal role in preserving agricultural traditions.
These women likely passed down not only seeds but also the knowledge of how to cultivate them in challenging conditions. Even today, Canarian women are often seen as keepers of plant knowledge, holding a deeper understanding of local crops than men. The survival of these lentils is, in many ways, a tribute to generations of women who safeguarded the island’s agricultural heritage.
Lentils as a Living Cultural Heritage
The discovery has sparked renewed interest in Canarian food traditions. More than just a dietary staple, lentils have become symbols of continuity, connecting present-day islanders with the ingenuity of their ancestors. Cooking with these lentils is not only an act of nourishment but also a way of tasting history—bringing the past to the dinner table.
Different islands across the archipelago have preserved their own varieties, and researchers now emphasize the importance of protecting this diversity. Each strain holds unique genetic adaptations, shaped by centuries of growth in different microclimates. Preserving them is not just about honoring cultural heritage—it is about safeguarding resilience for the future.
The Case of the Lanzarote Lentil
One particularly fascinating discovery involved the so-called “Lenteja tipo Lanzarote.” Commonly sold in Spanish shops as a marker of quality, these lentils are not actually grown in Lanzarote. Instead, genetic studies reveal that Lanzarote lentils have been crossbred with mainland Spanish varieties.
This blending of genes is more than a curiosity. It shows that Canarian lentils have already contributed to broader European agriculture, lending their resilience to mainland crops. Their hardiness in hot, dry conditions makes them particularly valuable at a time when climate change threatens global food security.
Lessons for the Future
The implications of the study reach far beyond the Canary Islands. As the world grapples with rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and shifting weather patterns, crops that can thrive in challenging environments are increasingly vital. The Canarian lentils, adapted over centuries to survive in dry and warm climates, may hold genetic keys to future plant breeding.
By integrating these ancient varieties into modern agricultural systems, scientists hope to develop crops that are not only productive but also resilient in the face of climate change. In this way, seeds preserved by volcanic stone and cultural tradition may yet help feed future generations.
The Power of Seeds to Tell Stories
The story of Canarian lentils is not simply about agriculture. It is about memory, survival, and the deep connection between people and the land. Seeds are more than food—they are vessels of history, carrying within them the choices, struggles, and hopes of those who sowed them long ago.
In every bite of lentil stew cooked in the Canary Islands today, there is a taste of resilience: of indigenous farmers who carved storerooms into rock, of women who guarded agricultural knowledge through upheaval, of generations who nurtured crops in unforgiving soil.
These lentils are living time capsules, proof that even the smallest seed can carry across centuries the story of a people and a place. And now, as science unlocks their genetic code, they offer us not only a window into the past but also a tool for shaping a sustainable future.
More information: Jenny Hagenblad et al, Ancient DNA from lentils (Lens culinaris) illuminates human – plant – culture interactions in the Canary Islands, Journal of Archaeological Science (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106360
