The existence of the Güí­mar step pyramids first came to wide public notice when an article was printed in a local newspaper in the early 1990’s.

The information reached the Norwegian anthropologist, Thor Heyerdahl, internationally renowned for his transoceanic voyages using vessels of prehistoric design, and for his theories concerning human migrations.

Heyerdahl, who dedicated much of his life to researching the cultural origins of ancient civilisations throughout the world, carefully studied photographs of the Güí­mar Pyramids, and put forward the hypothesis that they had been built in accordance with the same architectural principles as those of both the Old and the New World. The similarity of the pyramids in Güí­mar to those in Sicily, Mexico, Mesopotamia, Polynesia and Peru induced Heyerdahl to come to Tenerife to study the structures in situ.

Various theories exist as to the origin and age of the pyramids. Prior to the arrival of Heyerdahl to Tenerife, two alternative theories were disputed.
Some researchers maintained that they were mere heaps of stone left by farmers clearing the land for cultivation, while others claimed that these structures were related to esoteric beliefs. After Thor Heyerdahl´s investigations, some professional archaeologists began to relate the existence of the pyramids to ancient civilisations on the island.

In 1991, the Archaeology Department of La Laguna University carried out the first excavations. Also, the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canaries (I.A.C.) looked into possible ancient archaeo-astronomical relationships, revealing that the pyramids were astronomically aligned to the winter and summer solstices.

The land on which the Pyramids stand had been earmarked for development in connection with a planned expansion in the upper part of the town, jeopardising the survival of the structures.

Thor Heyerdahl’s interest became a personal commitment when the site of the pyramids was purchased by the Fred. Olsen shipping company in order to protect the structures and create what is today the Ethnographic Park Pirámides de Güí­mar.