Coves de les Vinyes

The illustrious man from Reus Cels Gomis (1841-1915), a road engineer and folklorist, on an excursion to the valleys of the Foix on 18 December 1885, riding in the tartana that was taking him from Pontons to Torrelles, saw some caves hanging in a nearby crag. In an article he published in the Butlletí de l'Associació d'Excursions Catalana (XI, 1886) he speaks of four caves of difficult access, hanging in a crag and above some vineyards. The information seems to have been given from oral references and at no point does he give them a name.

Puig i Larraz, in his Cavernas y Simas de España (1896), collects this information and catalogues them as the Coves de les Vinyes, locating them in Pontons. In later catalogues, Font i Sagué; Faura i Sans, repeat this information.

We do not know when the archaeological excavations were carried out, but they may possibly have been at the same time as those of the neighbouring Cova de la Masia.

During Holy Week of 1972 they are visited by members of the SIE – CEA who, in the absence of other data, christen them Baumes nº 1 i nº 2 del riu Pontons. Judging by the survey (unpublished until now) and the location they made on the map, these are the coves de les Vinyes.

In 1986 it is visited by G. Aymamí (SIRE – UEC Sants) who publishes the only more concrete data that we know of.