073 Cueva de Sotarraña (Cueva del Patatal)
Enaso VN51659625 Alt. 225m Depth 12m Length 280m
Updated 30th August 1998; 19th February 1999
The cave entrance was gated in May 1998 although, on a visit during the summer, the gate was found be unlocked.
A steep boulder slope leads after 30m to a 15m square passage with some 15m high formations. The cave ends at a calcite blockage, above which the decorated route passes graffiti before choking. To the right, past a pool, the passage splits: up to the left narrows and closes in, while to the right, in an alcove is an engraving of a deer (see below). On the left of the main passage is a 10m high column with the top half fallen over and wedged. There are also a view-hole through the calcite on this southern wall into a small chamber.
On the left, near the entrance, a climb (rope useful) over flowstone leads to a chamber with daylight in the roof while further on, on the left, a short climb up and down leads to a chamber. Up to the right, over painted calcite, enters a short crawl to a small chamber and a short drop to a choked hole.
Some 70m into the cave, on the northern side, a clamber up calcite to a short rising traverse meets a 9m pitch into a choked chamber.
The cave is an archaeological site (Matienzo archaeology article) with hyena bones and a single palaeolithic engraving of an animal without a head but with a spear in its side, at the end of the main passage. (See DL p133, 176). In 1998, a paleolithic deer jaw bone was recognised at the base of the entrance boulder slope.
The bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum has been recorded, while Notenboom (AX) found the following in 1984: Syncarida/Bathynellacea, Insecta and Oligochaeta.
References: Fernández Gutiérrez et al, 1966 (survey and photo);
Kendal Caving Club and Manchester University Speleological Society, 1975 (survey);
Mills L D J and Waltham A C, 1981 (survey);
Smith P, 1981a;
Smith P, 1981c ;
Corrin J S and Smith P, 1981;
Smith P, 1981b (survey);
Corrin J, 1983c;
Manchester University Speleological Society, 1982 (survey);
Smith P, 1986c (survey); Notenboom J and Meijers I, 1985;
Meijide Calvo M, 1982;
Balbin R et al, 1986;
anon., 1994a (Easter logbook); anon., 1998a (Easter logbook);
anon., 1998b (Whit logbook);
Corrin Juan, 1999;
Fernández Ortega F, Valls Uriol and Maria del Carmen, 1998 (photo)
Entrance picture : yes
Underground picture(s): passage and formations
1 2
3
4
5
cracked stal
Detailed Survey : 1:1000
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file :
