For centuries, the peaks of San Bartolomé de Tirajana were home to an activity essential to daily life and the rural economy of the municipality: the production of charcoal using charcoal pits, a hard and silent trade that today forms part of the historical and cultural heritage of Tirajana.
Charcoal pits were the traditional method used in San Bartolomé de Tirajana for producing charcoal. Unlike brick kilns, these structures were built directly on the ground, either excavated or prepared in areas sheltered from the wind and near pine forests. A slow and controlled combustion process took place within them, minimizing the oxygen intake to carbonize the wood without it burning completely.
The technique required knowledge and constant vigilance. The wood was carefully stacked, covered with earth, ash, and plant debris, and the fire was maintained for several days or even weeks. Controlling the air vents was essential to regulate the temperature and ensure high-quality, lightweight, and durable charcoal, intended primarily for domestic and craft use.
Charcoal production was present in the municipality at least since the 18th century and remained active well into the 20th century, continuing in some areas until the 1950s and 1960s. Its decline coincided with the arrival of new energy sources such as gas and electricity, which gradually replaced charcoal.
Charcoal making was essentially a family affair. Men, women, and young people participated in the various stages of the process, from preparing the pit to distributing the final product. The work was hard and demanding, dictated by the rhythms of the forest and the economic needs of each household.
Once the carbonization process was complete, the coal was transported on foot, carried in sacks or panniers, from the highlands to the inhabited areas. Tunte, the historical capital of the municipality, was one of the main destinations for this coal brought down from the peaks. These long walks, carrying the weight of the coal on their backs, are part of the oral history of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and reflect the hardship of rural life at that time.
The charcoal pits were located mainly in the Tirajana highlands, in areas of Canary pine forest. Pine was the most widely used wood due to its abundance and high calorific value, within a traditional forest management system based on knowledge of the environment and the responsible use of natural resources.
This past remains present today thanks to the Bajada del Carbonero (Charcoal Burner's Descent), an emblematic celebration in Tunte that symbolically recreates the charcoal burners' descent from the mountaintop to the town. Beyond its festive nature, this event pays homage to the generations who sustained the municipality with their labor and serves as a way to preserve the historical identity of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.