Not long ago, ruins were discovered on the uninhabited island of \u201cLobos,\u201d named after the sea wolves that once lived there. Excavations began after pottery shards and the remains of many shells indicated that there must have been settlements here. Historians are now certain that this island off the coast of Fuerteventura served as a laboratory 2,000 years ago for the labor-intensive production of purple dye for the Roman Empire. Thousands of snails were processed here to yield just one gram of dye. <\/p>\n\n
It\u2019s surprising how closely the red used for dyeing is connected to this place. Purple snails, dyer\u2019s lichen, and cochineal\u2026 \u201cTierra roja, tierra de luz,\u201d goes a song from Lanzarote. <\/p>\n\n
Red Land, Land of Light.<\/p>\n\n
A place where valuable goods traveled long, long distances.<\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Not long ago, ruins were discovered on the uninhabited island of \u201cLobos,\u201d named after the sea wolves that once lived there. Excavations began after pottery shards and the remains of… <\/p>\n