By royal decree 2.756/78, Cenobio de Valeron was declared a Historical/Artistic monument on 14^th October 1978. The law changed in 1985, and the Cenobio was re-classified as an Archaeological Area and given special protection under the relevant decree.
The deeds of ownership are in the name of Santa María de Guía Town Hall and duly inscribed in the municipal inventory.
Cenobio de Valerón, together with the Cueva Pintada in Gáldar, is the island’s most outstanding pre-conquest monument. Over the years the caves have undergone work on numerous occasions, the final outcome of which can be seen today.

1940

In the early 1940’s, Sebastián Jiménez, Chief of Excavation Work in Las Palmas, carried out cleaning work which consisted of removing earth and rubble which had accumulated in the silos and inner caves. As a result previously undiscovered cavities came to light.

1970

In 1972-1973 work began to make the caves suitable for visit. 190 steps, stone benches and lookout points were built as well as a wide, level area immediately in front of the caves from which the site could be observed.

Part of this work involved “cleaning out” the silos and caves. The material removed was left on the road and used as filling for the foundations of the steps. Unfortunately, despite good intentions, this was the worst possible thing to do. Not only was valuable archaeological material lost but the steps were also built on top of a pre-historic pathway carved into the rock.

Once open for visit, areas were not roped off, and visitors could roam freely and enter caves. This caused degeneration and erosion, and rock disappeared.

1986

The local Government department responsible for Sport and Cultural Activities carried out reforms and improvements. These included: renewing the hand-rail, installing a watering system, installing a metal gate at the guard’s office, re-painting metal work and repairing stone work. In view of the deterioration caused by visitors in the past, it was decided the caves should be roped off, and nowadays they can only be seen from the viewing platform provided.

In the late 80’s and early 90’s, damp stains and the growth of micro-organisms were detected. These, no doubt, had previously existed. No measures were taken, however, to control the problem, and the dampness brought about changes in the rock, which broke down and became sandier. In the 1970’s, the growth of housing without adequate sanitation, (septic tanks only), in the nearby neighbourhood Gallego de Atrás, aggravated the problem.

1994 - 1998

In 1994, Gran Canaria Council commissioned the archaeologist Valentín Barroso Cruz to carry out a study to create sectors within the site so that a geological analysis of the rock could be made sector by sector. The geological analysis was carried out by Cotas Internacional.

In 1998, Arqueocanaria S.L.was commissioned by the council to direct the project “Integral improvement of Cenobio de Valerón archaeological site.” The aim of the project was to analyse and recommend how best to conserve the site whilst making it available for visit and educational purposes.

2005 - 2006

Between 2005 and 2006 a series of improvements were made with a view to modernizing the services available. The Town Halls of the North of Gran Canaria together proposed the project “Partial improvement of Cenobio de Valerón archaeological site” which was entrusted to Arqueocanaria S.L. In essence, the aim of this project was to improve the part of the site open to the public, prior to re-opening.

2007

Cenobio de Valerón re-opened in February 2007