Updated 21st June 2021

   A cave (in the Pistruellos Group, Riotuerto area) that has come to the fore in 2021 due to its proximity to the proposed Garma Blanca windfarm. The MCP first partially documented the (out-of-area) walk-in cave in 2006 when it was sketched and a strong draught was noticed. The site was later GPS'd. A survey from June 1980 appears in the BCE 12, page 36 (Pintó Alfonso et al, 1996). The cave is an archaeological site and has been surveyed by Emilio and Jesús. It was also surveyed by Pete Smith to provide x, y, z data in March 2021.
   A Google Translate and edited version of a windfarm document is shown below:

Extracted, translated then edited from ANEXO VII. ESTUDIO DE AFECCIÓN AL PATRIMONIO CULTURAL.pdf , one of the documents produced by Green Capital Power to support the construction of the Garma Blanca wind farm.
    According to the information that appears in the INVAC3, this is a site with a chronology of recent prehistory and ancient age, as it is established. The cave has a mouth, facing SE, 3.6 m wide and 2 m high, which gives access to a hall 3.6 m wide and 4.4 m long, from this part a corridor (where were the archaeological materials) and then a progressively narrowing gallery 35 m long.
    The site was discovered in the 1980s by members of P.U.S. C.I.A.T.I.C.A, who conducted a superficial survey. In a later report the existence of iron and Roman ceramics is mentioned, but they do not appear in the MAPC deposit. There is contradictory information on the findings since the ceramic fragments attributed to the Iron Age and Roman times seem that they were not collected, therefore, they remained in the cavity, although it has not been possible to verify. Fragments probably corresponding to S-profile pots are mentioned in the corresponding ENVAC file. There is only one fragment of a vessel in the Museum's deposit. During a recent survey of the cavity, some goat fauna remains of indeterminate age have been observed, although their coloration and the conditions of the deposit suggest that they are not very old. Its state of conservation is apparently good, although there is no evidence of an archaeological deposit in the strict sense, so its conservation cannot be assessed. However, the cavity does not appear to be altered by artificial causes This site is included in the INVAC Archaeological Inventory of Cantabria, with number 064.009. Likewise, the INVAC includes a protection environment for this deposit.
Corrective measures
This entrance is located on the southern slope of Alto Escajos and on the Arroyo de Bencano, in a place known as Vaguada de La Colodra. The location of this entrance is outside the affected surface (around 250 meters) of the wind farm, although it is within the polygonal of the same. According to oral information obtained from residents of the area, the cave of La Colodra is frequented by speleologists and is surveyed, having a very extensive route of several kilometers. (Although this is likely to be referring to El Cubillón in the valley below). That is why, although the mouth of the cave is not directly affected, we believe it is necessary to adopt corrective measures to preserve the integrity and conditions of the cavity. As corrective measures for the affection on this deposit, the following are proposed: Signing of the place assigned by the INVAC coordinates to the Cueva de La Colodra and marking a 25-meter environment around it.
- Signposting of the entrance to the Cueva de La Colodra, marking an area of 50 meters around it
- Prohibition of carrying out any type of work in that marked area.
- Carrying out a geological study to determine if the park's construction works pose a risk to the integrity and environmental conditions of the cave, paying special attention to preserving its water system and possible vibrations caused.
- No work will be carried out that involves a change in the directions of water flows that may affect the karstic system of the Cueva de La Colodra. Archaeological monitoring of the wind farm works to verify compliance with these corrective measures.

References: Pintó Alfonso et al, 1996; anon., 2021a (January, February logbook); anon., 2021b (Spring logbook)
Entrance pictures : 2006 summer
Underground pictures : March 2021
Video :
Detailed survey : from BCE 12 : Muñoz / Ruiz Cobo
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file : 3d file, March 2021