Cueva Coro Trasito

Useful Information

Location:	North of Tella. From Aínsa north on A-138 17 km towards French border, turn left at Hospital, 8.5 km to Tella. (42.595567, 0.177975)
Open:	After appointment. [2021]
Fee:	free. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	Ar=300 m², A=1,548 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Aitor Ruiz-redondo (2014): Surcos en la arcilla: evaluación arqueológica de los hallazgos parietales de la cueva de Coro Trasito (Tella) Sobrarbe antes de Sobrarbe, Centro de Estudios de Sobrarbe, ISBN: 978-84-8127-265-9 pdf Ignacio Clemente Conte, Javier Rey Lanaspa, Ermengol Gassiot Ballbè, Aitor Ruíz Redondo, Niccolò Mazzucco (2013): Informe de Intervenciones Arqueológicas en la Cueva de Coro Trasito (tella-sin, Huesca) (exp. Nº 074/2013) pdf
Address:	Cueva Coro Trasito, Avda. Ainsa, 22, 22364 Lafortunada-Tella-Sin, Huesca, Tel: +34-608-104-525, Fax: +34-974-504-098. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1970s	prehistoric remains discovered in the cave.
2011	first archaeological excavations directed by J. Rey Lanaspa.
27 and 28-JUN-2013	prospecting of the walls, ceilings and floors to evaluate the possible presence of cave paintings.

Description

The Cueva Coro Trasito is located north of the municipality of Tella at an altitude of 1,548 m very close to the eastern limit of the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. It is a huge semicircular shelter with a large south-facing portal. Due to the enormous dimensions of the portal daylight penetrates to the deepest part of the cave. The floor of the chamber is covered with large boulders and remains of building of different ages. At the western end of the shelter is an east-facing entrance of a cave system of several kilometres length. It is explored by the Grupo de Espeleología de Badalona (Badalona Caving Group). It is a river cave with a massive cave river, during times of high yield it rises and emerges from the portal.

The prehistoric remains were discovered by the Badalona Caving Group in the 1970s. They found a polished axe, millstones and fragments of pottery. But the first excavations were made in 2011 directed by J. Rey Lanaspa. The results were so promising that the Grupo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (High Mountain Archaeology Group) of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Institución Milà i Fontanals of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spanish National Research Council) drafted a new project in 2013. They discovered a series of occupations from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. The research for cave paintings in 2013 was successful, numerous abstract patters, both painted and engraved, were discovered. As a result the cave is now closed but may be visited on guided tours offered by the town Tella.

The cave was used as a shelter between 7,300 BP to at least 6,600 BP, for 7300-7100 BP the agriculture with wheat and barley crops, and sheep, cattle and pig farming was proven.

Tours start at Tella, visitors are transported to the cave by small busses. The tour starts with an ascent of about 500m/15 min to the cave, the portal offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Norte del Castillo Mayor mountain and the Escuaín gorge. During rainy weather the trail may be slippery, good walking shoes are recommended. We recommend to bring a torch or headlamp, sun protection, a hat, and enough drinking water. The Tella Town Hall offers other tours, for example to the famous Dolmen de Tella or the hermitages Ermita de San Juan y San Pablo.