Coves del Catau de l'ós

In September 1953, members of the GES – CMB, on their second visit to the Forat de l'Embut, mention in the activity log 'a cave near l'Embut' which we think could be these caves. Alexandre Carreras, in his article on the valley of Núria (Cavernas no. 3, 1964), already gives a brief description of some small caves (without giving them any name) located above the Forat de l'Embut and places them on a schematic map accompanying the article. Undoubtedly these are the same caves.

At the beginning of July 1971, members of the SIE – CEA explore and survey them, naming them Coves del Catau de l'Ós. It should be said that this name was a pure whim of the explorers; the place name catau is not genuine, and if they have any popular name in the area, we do not know it.

In October 2006 they are visited and surveyed again by members of the GE Badalona.

During a study programme (2007-2012) carried out in the valley of Núria by researchers from the universities of Barcelona and Clermont-Ferrand, in one of the campaigns this cave was visited, with archaeological and sedimentological work being carried out.

Subsequently the excavation work has continued and in the latest campaigns, by the IPHES and the ICAC (Tarragona), the existence of important prehistoric occupations has been confirmed, with the remains of combustion pits for the exploitation of malachite, carbonised plant fuel, etc.

After the latest excavation campaign (26 August to 6 September 2021) and in agreement with the Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser, the cavity has been closed with an iron grille, as we have learned from the press and TV3 (October 2021). Apparently this cavity is the highest prehistoric cave in the whole Pyrenees.