Balmes de Gramenet

Large worked rock shelter 52 metres long and 19 deep in the barranc de Fontfreda (Isona i Conca Dellà), inhabited until 1920.

Isona i Conca Dellà • Pallars Jussà 19m 2m

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Balmes de Gramenet

Large worked rock shelter 52 metres long and 19 deep in the barranc de Fontfreda (Isona i Conca Dellà), inhabited until 1920.

Isona i Conca Dellà · Pallars Jussà

Length: 19 m · Depth: 2 m

Updated record

https://espeleoworld.com/en/c/balmes-de-gramenet

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

Large worked rock shelter 52 metres long and 19 deep in the barranc de Fontfreda (Isona i Conca Dellà), inhabited until 1920.

Characteristics

Type: Cave
Municipality: Isona i Conca Dellà
Region: Pallars Jussà
Unit: Serres marginals - Est
Length: 19 meters
Depth: 2 meters
Major Unit: Prepirineu
Lithology: Conglomerate
Updated on EspeleoÍndex: November 17, 2012

Location

It is located in the barranc de Fontfreda, in Isona i Conca Dellà. It is reached via the L-512 road from Artesa de Segre to Tremp: after Montargull, about 1800 metres further on, on the left and at a bend, there is the turn-off to the masies de Tòrrec. After passing cal Sala, take the turn-off to the right towards cal Vansa; 125 metres before reaching the farmhouse there is a track on the left suitable for 4x4 vehicles, which is followed for about 1700 metres to a junction; continue on the left for about 200 metres to a wide place to turn around and park. From here follow the track to the end; it follows the barranc de la Font Freda along its hydrographic left bank until crossing it and climbs westwards up the right slope, then turns towards the N and currently ends right below the balmes de Gramenet, after a distance of 1900 metres.

Entrances

Always verify coordinates and access conditions before setting out.

Gramenet, Balmes de
Elevation: 725 m
42.013675, 1.080171
UTM 31T (ED 50) 341129 4653281
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Topographic

Balmes de Gramenet - Topography, Isona i Conca Dellà, Pallars Jussà

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Photos

Balmes de Gramenet - Photo, Isona i Conca Dellà, Pallars Jussà

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Description

Morphology

It is a large worked rock shelter 52 metres long and 19 deep. It is entered from the easternmost part. The shelters are in two sections separated by about 30 metres on the same bedding plane. The larger one is located right below a barranc and is 19 metres deep. Continuing about 30 metres further west is the other shelter, 12 metres deep.

Hydrology

The larger shelter is located right below a barranc along which a trickle of water usually flows down.

Other details

Inside the larger shelter there are several compartments delimited by stone and rammed-earth walls. Continuing westwards there is an oven in a perfect state of conservation. In the other shelter, the remains of a wall close off the enclosure.

History

The balmes de Gramenet were inhabited until 1920. They are mentioned in various hiking guides, but the first time an article about the shelter was published is in the “Aplec de documents arqueològics de les coves del Montsec i llur projecció a les comarques i serres properes” by Josep de la Vega; unfortunately he makes a mistake, confusing the balmes de Gramenet with the cova de l'Hereu. In October 1994 Gener Aymamí, Joan Reig and E. Peidró together with other colleagues realised the error and published it in the magazine Excursionisme (270). In 2008 Jordi de Valles published volume 1 of the Catàleg Espeleològic de Catalunya; in it the location of the shelters appears correctly corrected with respect to that given by Josep de la Vega, but as regards the survey it includes the one he called balma de Gramenet when in reality it is the survey of the cova de l'Hereu.

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Bibliography

Cortés i Ribelles, Manuel.(1984).- El Montsec i Muntanyes Veïnes. Centre Excursionista de Lleida.
Reig,Joan; Aymamí,Gener; Peidró,Eliseo.(1998).-”Baronia de Lavansa: Romànic i trogloditisme amb incògnites”. Excursionisme (270):230-236. UEC. Barcelona.
Valles, Jordi de.(2008).-Catàleg Espeleològic de Catalunya (vol.1):122-123. EC Gràcia.Barcelona
Vega, Josep de la. (1981).-”Aplec de documents arqueològics de les coves del Montsec i llur projecció a les comarques i serres properes”. Mediterrània (12):1-359.