Lanzarote has been populated for at least two thousand years. The present inhabitants are known generically like "conejeros", since before the Castilian conquest, the island was populated by Mahos, being these a Berber town. The ancient mahos lived on grazing, shore shelling, fruit picking and had a very limited agriculture, centered on the cultivation of Moorish wheat. They did not know the metals and they had lost the knowledge on the ocean navigation. They lived in caves or half-buried stone huts (deep houses), dressed in raw goat skins and fed on gofio, goat meat and fish. Almost all the chronicles pick up his calm and hospitable character, as well as his fondness for music and dance.
Agriculture was one of the main activities of the island.
Due to the Spanish colonization and the maritime scales of the ships coming from Africa, Europe and America, the population of Lanzarote is today a mixture of indigenous and native Majos, on the one hand, and Castilian, Andalusian, Portuguese, Genoese, Norman and British, on the other.
The fact of being an oceanic scale has influenced the personality of its inhabitants, giving rise to an open town whose identity lies halfway between these three continents.
Lanzarote locals were formerly known as "rabbits" (of rabbits) because of the large number of rabbits on Lanzarote, whose hides were exported to Tenerife in the 19th century. The inhabitants of the other islands still call them that. Traditional activities, such as agriculture and fishing, now occupy a small number of Lanzarote people.
There is a great pottery tradition and products derived from palm leaf and other vegetable fibers, as well as a varied and recognized textile handicraft.
In the pottery some objetcs are: vessels, lamps, ceramic or clay pots made with primitive instruments or by hand.
Because of its originality, it is necessary to mention the figures of the bride and groom, a couple of people with developed sexual characters who formerly exchanged the betrothed.
The derivatives of vegetal fibers promote basketry work of reed, palm, palmito and straw of rye, whereas the textile field have rooted loom works; Rosette, embroidery, crochet and stitch.
Characteristic of the island is the use of palm leaf, with which are made mats, bags and the tool used to shape the cheeses.
In Teguise are made the famous timples, typical instrument of Lanzarote that proceeds from the time of the conquerors. It's also interesting how the hats of drafts, rosettes and lace and palmito are made, characteristic of the country people.
