Updated 5th September 1998; 28th October 2007; 22nd December 2008; 16th May 2009; 25th June 2010

At the top of a small, wooded hill. The entrance is closed with a gate. Excavated in 1963, remains dating from the Mousterian to the Azilian Periods were discovered, with the Aurignacian and Upper Magdalenian levels being particularly important.

In 1983, C.A.E.A.P. discovered a group of engravings, including a caprid viewed frontally, which can be dated to the upper Magdalenian. This appears similar to the engraving in Sima-Cueva del Risco in Matienzo (Ruiz Cobo Jesús et al, 2008, p96). The same group also found a small fragment of prehistoric pottery.

The whole of Cueva del Otero (Echegaray et al, 1966) is devoted to the site. Link to page at University of Cantabria.

Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Muñoz Fernández Emilio et al, 2009 has a comprehensive summary of the deposits with drawings throughout the text.

References: Corrin J S and Smith P, 1981; Manchester University Speleological Society, 1982; Echegaray et al, 1966; Bohigas R, 1986 (survey); Munoz Fernandez E et al, 1987; Gonzalez Sainz C et al, 1985; Muñoz E, 1988; Smith Peter, 2002; Corrin Juan and Smith Peter, 2007; Corrin Juan, 2007a; Ruiz Cobo Jesús et al, 2008; Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Muñoz Fernández Emilio et al, 2009 (survey and photo); anon., 2010b (Easter logbook)
Entrance pictures : yes
Underground picture(s):
Detailed Survey : from Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Muñoz Fernández Emilio et al, 2009
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file :