This experimental study explores entomological succession in mortuary contexts in caves, using the funeral
practices of the indigenous populations of the Canary Islands as a model. A pig carcass was deposited in a cave
shortly after its death and monitored for a year. The resulting entomological record closely matches the
archaeoentomological data from Canarian burial caves. The experiment documented all stages of cadaveric
succession and revealed insect species capable of adapting to the low light conditions of caves, including Cal-
liphoridae. Other Diptera families were recovered: Piophilidae, Muscidae, Phoridae, Fanniidae, Sarcophagidae
and Drosopholidae. Coleoptera evidences were also recorded: Nitulidae, Cleridae, Dermestidae, Histeridae,
Tenebrionidae, Cryptophagidae, Ptinidae and Scarabaeidae. Other orders were documented: Hymenoptera
(Formicidae), Lepidoptera (Pyralidae), Blattodea, Hemiptera and Siphonaptera. It is noteworthy that many of the
insects identified match those found in archaeological contexts. A central contribution is the demonstration that
Calliphoridae can complete their life cycle under near-total darkness, challenging a long-standing assumption in
taphonomy and forensic entomology. The data also suggest the existence of consistent patterns of entomological
activity in primary funerary contexts, and call into question the desiccation of the cadaver documented by other
authors. This pioneering study of experimental funerary archaeoentomology provides a comparative framework
for interpreting insect evidence in archaeological deposits in arid, enclosed or low-light environments such as
natural caves, catacombs or hypogea.