**Ropemarker** ::cuerda 
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Since its founding in 1343, the history of Deba has been closely tied to the sea. The town prospered thanks to commercial navigation, fishing, and especially whaling, which became one of its key economic activities for centuries. In that maritime world, ropes —or “cabos”— were essential: they secured vessels, controlled masts and sails, and held the harpoons of whaling boats after they were launched at the whales.
Crafting these ropes required careful skill. They were made from hemp fibers, braided to different thicknesses depending on their purpose. Hemp was not produced in Deba; it arrived from La Rioja and Castile, creating a continuous flow of merchants and muleteers. Often, outbound journeys carried salted cod, pickled goods, or whale fat, while the return trips brought back the precious hemp needed to make the ropes.
Because rope-making required large open spaces, this work was carried out outside the town walls, specifically in the sandy area known as the arenal. There, in the open air, long fibers were stretched and braided into the ropes that would later serve aboard ships, in fishing tasks, and in whaling expeditions. These seemingly simple crafts sustained Deba’s maritime economy for generations and now form a key part of its historical and cultural heritage.
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