Cova del Toll

Despite being known since time immemorial by the people of the area, it went completely unnoticed by speleologists until 20 June 1948, when a team from the new GES del CMB explored the first 125 metres of the spring gallery, up to a point where F. Rovira and F. Vicens were stopped by the narrowness and the water. They did not return until August of the following year and, taking advantage of the galleries being practically dry, they reached about 220 metres from the entrance, where a vertical laminador barred their way. This point, Rovira called it the clau del Toll and he himself, alone, managed to overcome it on 17 July 1950, calculating that he had travelled about 500 metres from the mouth and retreating as a victim of exhaustion. The same Rovira, also alone, carried out two more entries without result (August 1950 and June 1951). Finally, on 13 July 1952, F. Rovira, this time accompanied by colleagues from the GES, managed to overcome the narrow and tortuous galleries and reached the wide zone of the cave, discovering what would later be called the South Gallery and, what is more important, the finding of important archaeological and palaeontological remains. This fact led to thinking of another mouth, at that time blocked, and based on the careful topography made by F. Rovira and completed by J.Mª Thomas, a tunnel began to be excavated at a point on the bank of the torrent Mal and they connected the South Gallery with the exterior. From then on the important excavations continued, coordinated by J.Mª Thomas and J.F. de Villalta, which have placed the cova del Toll as a reference point in the study of the Quaternary. In August 1975, members of the GEMI (Grup Excursionista Moianès Independent) begin to dedicate themselves to emptying with pumps the flooded galleries of the nearby avenc del Bassot pit, sensing a possible union with the cova del Toll. The unblocking works continue during the summer of 1980 and 1981 and on 15 August of that year, after considerable efforts, the two cavities are connected. During this time they produce a new, very complete topography that is so far the most up to date.