Cova de Solanes

Despite being known since very ancient times by the people of the area, it does not appear in the old speleological catalogues.

The cave began to be studied in 1915 by the well-known Dr. Pere Bosch Gimpera (1891-1974). Later, in January 1966 the Grup d'Arqueologia TALP of Sant Feliu de Codines, directed by the local scholar Martí Garriga i Argullós, began intense excavations that lasted until the early 80s. As a result of this work many important materials were discovered that today are studied, restored and exhibited at the Museu Municipal Can Xifreda of the town. Also collaborating in the work were the then director of the Museu de Granollers, Josep Estrada i Garriga, with Pere Font, Emili Ramón and the geologist Enric Sunyer.

The work was so intense that it changed the topography of the cavity, both in the surface of the plan and in its drop, since excavation reached a depth of about four metres, coming to triple the surface of the original plan. And it was not continued because the whole became unstable to the point that one day, while they were excavating, a great collapse occurred, fortunately without consequences, but which advised the stoppage and later abandonment of the work.

The boundary that separates two different properties passes just above the cave. When Pere Bosch's work began, it seemed that the cavity had a single entrance, the one on the side of the mas del Fonoll, but later a second access was found on the side of the mas de Solanes. One on each side of the boundary and only about five metres apart. The respective owners always wanted to have the right over the cave, especially on finding the archaeological remains there, for we already know that which they often ask us: Have you found some treasure there? Well yes, there is no greater treasure than having curiosity and wanting to find out about our past. (Data from Lluís Auroux)

The topographic changes suffered have not affected, at least significantly, the cave fauna, since it is not rare to find there, for example, the beetle Parvospeonomus urgellesi, described by Francesc Español in 1965 from the Avenc de les Aranyes of Hortsavinyà, in the Montnegre. It is a species that also colonises the karstified limestone patches that exist at some intermediate points up to the mountain of the Farell, above Caldes de Montbui. (Data from Lluís Auroux).