On September 30, 2000, while participating on a speleological survey near the village of Le Buisson-de Cadouin, M. Marc Delluc (of the Spéléo-Club of Périgueux) recognized the small entrance of a cavity. After crossing a first small opening, his passage was blocked by a mass of fallen blocks and stones. After partially clearing this obstruction, he was able to pass into a large gallery, which he then followed for approximately 100 meters. This is where he discovered the first parietal engravings. The next Saturday, October 7, he returned to continue exploring the cavity, accompanied by Fabrice Massoulier and Hervé Durif. They had discovered six hundred more meters of galleries when, given the multiplying evidence of past human presence, they decided to interrupt their exploration in order to limit damage to the floors, which were largely composed of fragile clay. The next day, October 8, Norbert Aujoulat (Centre National de Préhistoire) and Christian Archambeau (DRAC) performed an expert evaluation and officially recognized the discovery. The Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles and the Service Régional de l'Archéologie then began the procedure of classifying the entrance of the cavity as an historical monument. This took effect on November 23, 2000 with the agreement of the owners of the land on which the site is located. Due to urgent security risks, major work was undertaken between January and May 2001 to evacuate the stone debris from the entrance, and to consolidate and protect this zone. Once this was completed, the work of exploration, topography, and expert evaluations could continue.