Coves del Fem

Coves del Fem is an archaeological site in the municipality of Ulldemolins, in the Priorat region of Tarragona province, right beside the Montsant river. Despite the plural name, it is actually a single large rock shelter, flanked by a few smaller cavities that likely explain the traditional "caves" name.

What is this place?

The shelter was discovered in 1997 by Marc Boada, a local hiker who spotted an unusually large amount of archaeological material scattered on the surface while walking through the hills. He reported the find to specialists, and Coves del Fem quickly became one of the key reference points for studying Catalonia's prehistory.

The cultural layers uncovered here span a long stretch of time — from the final Mesolithic hunter-gatherer groups through the early Neolithic, when the first farming communities settled in the Montsant valley. That continuity is what makes the site so valuable: it is rare to find a single location that documents the shift between two such different ways of life.

What have archaeologists found?

Excavations have produced a rich record: pottery fragments, stone tools, personal ornaments, hearths, and plant and animal remains that help reconstruct the diet and daily routines of the people who used the shelter. The biggest surprise came in 2020, when researchers uncovered a small stone plaque engraved with animal figures. Dating placed it between roughly 15,000 and 11,700 years ago, in the late Upper Paleolithic — pushing the site's timeline much further back than previously assumed and giving Coves del Fem new scientific weight.

How do you get there?

Coves del Fem sits in the largely undeveloped landscape of the Montsant valley, within the municipality of Ulldemolins — a small town known for its olive oil and its proximity to the Priorat wine country. Reaching Ulldemolins itself is straightforward via local roads from Falset or Reus, but getting to the shelter requires following a walking trail through the rocky, scrub-covered terrain typical of Priorat. It makes a natural excuse to combine the visit with a hike through the surrounding hills.

Why is it worth seeing?

This is not a polished tourist site with visitor centers and information boards at every turn — it's a working archaeological site that continues to yield new discoveries. The Priorat county council has recognized Coves del Fem as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest and listed it in Catalonia's catalog of cultural heritage, confirming its importance to both science and the region. For anyone interested in prehistory or the Priorat landscape, it's a rare chance to see a place where archaeology is still being written.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the best times to come, when temperatures in Priorat are mild and the trails around Ulldemolins aren't baking under the summer sun. Summers here can get very hot, which makes longer walks over rocky terrain uncomfortable.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Coves del Fem on your own? Yes, access is via a walking trail near Ulldemolins, but it's worth checking current conditions beforehand since the site is subject to ongoing research.

Who discovered the site? The rock shelter was discovered in 1997 by local hiker Marc Boada, who noticed numerous archaeological remains scattered on the surface.

What is the most important find? A stone plaque engraved with animal figures, dated to between 15,000 and 11,700 years ago and discovered in 2020 — the oldest documented item of its kind at the site.

What protected status does the site have? Coves del Fem has been declared a Cultural Asset of Local Interest and is listed in Catalonia's catalog of cultural heritage.