Avenc de la Casa Nova

A 14 m deep pit near Casa Nova (Olivella), discovered in 2005 and surveyed in 2019.

Olivella • Garraf 24m 14m

EspeleoWorld

A 14 m deep pit near Casa Nova (Olivella), discovered in 2005 and surveyed in 2019.

Olivella · Garraf

Length: 24 m · Depth: 14 m

Updated record

https://espeleoworld.com/en/c/avenc-de-la-casa-nova

Information can change. Always verify coordinates, access, weather, and cave conditions before setting out.

Topographic map of the main entrance — Main entrance · ICGC topographic map

A 14 m deep pit near Casa Nova (Olivella), discovered in 2005 and surveyed in 2019.

Characteristics

Type: Pothole
Municipality: Olivella
Region: Garraf
Unit: Garraf, el
Length: 24 meters
Depth: 14 meters
Major Unit: Serralada Litoral
Lithology: Limestone
Updated on EspeleoÍndex: May 11, 2019

Location

160 metres N of the ruins of the masia of Casa Nova. From here a small path must be followed in a N direction along the ridge line. At first it is overgrown and somewhat faint. After 160 metres it passes within barely 2 metres of the mouth of the pit, which lies to the left of the path in the direction of travel.

On the upper part of the left slope of the Fondo de les Llenties, not far from the well-known Avenc de Can Ramonet.

Entrances

Always verify coordinates and access conditions before setting out.

Avenc de la Casa Nova
Elevation: 204 m
41.273304, 1.853391
UTM 31T (ETRS89) 403967 4569731
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Topographic

Avenc de la Casa Nova - Topography, Olivella, Garraf

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Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.

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Photos

Avenc de la Casa Nova - Photo, Olivella, Garraf

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Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.

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Description

Morphology

A 12-metre shaft of oval section and just over one metre wide along most of its course. 2 metres above its base a small window opens that connects with a short inclined conduit and gives access to a small 4-metre pit, at the bottom of which the progression remains blocked. At the upper part of this pit it continues via a narrow chimney, which has been ascended for 6 metres until the narrowness prevents passage.

Progression

At the bottom of the 4-metre pit the progression remains blocked. At the upper part of this pit it continues via a narrow chimney, which has been ascended for 6 metres until the narrowness prevents passage.

History

Cavity discovered in 2005 by Àlex Arbonès (SE-CE Sitges) and Yago Marzoa, who were prospecting the area of Casa Nova and saw what appeared to be the mouth of a pit half covered by blocks; the mouth was then cleared and they descended about 4 metres of the first shaft, but the cavity remained completely filled with sediments.

Some years passed without returning, and it was not until around 2009 that members of SE-CE Sitges (Marc Arbonès, Miquel Muntanyola and Rafa Fraguas) together with other volunteer companions began removing stones, blocks and earth, hauling it all up with a bucket and the help of a tripod and a pulley.

The Sitges caving group disbanded but they kept going to the cavity to remove sediments with the help of some members of GE Talaia de Vilanova i la Geltrú (Jaume Mirabent and Mireia Henández) until 2018, when they reached 14 metres of depth.

Finally, on 1 May 2019 Rafa Fraguas returned accompanied by Josep Guarro and they made the survey.