0083: Chica, Cueva
La Colina 30T 453080 4796356 (Datum: ETRS89. Accuracy code: G) Altitude 433m
Length 78m Depth 3m
Area position : Site entrance in context : Logbook search

Updated 17th September 2000; 3rd February, 27th October 2001; 20th December 2008; 14th September 2015

Cave passage description (Nigel Dibben, August 2015)
This is a fossil cave with no draught.
The cave contains a meandering walking-size passage approx 80m long with a distinct left and right bend in the centre. The floor is sandy soil mixed with animal faeces and bones of sheep and goats etc. At the left bend, a short passage goes straight ahead with possible "bears' nests" in the floor and definite bear claw marks on a clay wall to the left at the end. The passage ends with a rise to a higher level which is too small but shows phreatic features in the roof. After the left bend, a short branch goes back towards the entrance but closes down. The passage bends right through a sandy chamber to a constriction between stal. After the constriction, there is a small chamber with flowstone walls ending in another tight passage which is not passable. There is a chimney above the entrance chamber.
Notable features include bear marks on walls and possibly floor; animal remains and fungi on the floor; the phreatic roof and stal in the final chamber reached.


The left-hand passage contains a few black marks which might be considered schematic-abstract paintings. These are detailed and sketched in El Arte Esquemático-Abstracto de Matienzo y sus alrededores (Smith Peter, 1998b) and further discussed in Muñoz Emilio et al, 1995 and Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Smith Peter et al, 2001. The developing Acanto web site (by the Federación de Asociaciones para la defensa del Patrimonio Cultural y Natural de Cantabria) has a section on Arte Rupestre esquemático-abstracto.

References: Fernández Gutiérrez et al, 1966; Corrin J S and Smith P, 1981; anon., 1983b (logbook); material in file; Muñoz Emilio et al, 1995; Smith Peter, 1998b (survey); Smith Peter and Ruiz Cobo Jesús, 1999; anon., 2000c (Summer logbook); Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Smith Peter et al, 2001; Ruiz Cobo Jesús et al, 2008 (survey); anon., 2015c (summer logbook)
Entrance pictures : yes
Underground pictures: yes
Detailed Survey : 1:1000 : Resurvey, summer 2015
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file : yes

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