Period of realization of paintings Paléolithique (≈ 1505000 av. J.-C.)
Estimated dating of rock works.
2002
Discovery of the cave
Discovery of the cave 2002 (≈ 2002)
Identification of red ochre paints.
15 mai 2017
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 15 mai 2017 (≈ 2017)
Registration by official order of the site.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The cave called Grotte de la Cabre, as indicated on the plan annexed to the decree (cad. G 107): inscription by order of 15 May 2017
Origin and history
The cave of La Cabre, located in the municipality of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc in Ardèche, is a prehistoric site dated from the Paleolithic. Discovered in 2002, it is distinguished by its rock paintings made with red ochre, including a partial representation of a young cervid or caprine, which inspired the name of the place. These works, scattered in several areas of the cave, bear witness to the parietal art of this distant era.
The cave was officially recognized as a Historic Monument by a registration order on 15 May 2017. This classification protects the entire site, as delimited on the plan annexed to the decree, under the property of the department of Ardèche. Although its location is approximate (estimated at 6/10), its archaeological and artistic importance makes it a remarkable heritage of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The paintings of the cave of La Cabre, although less well known than those of the nearby Chauvet Cave, offer a valuable insight into the artistic expressions of Paleolithic. Their style and theme are part of the broader context of ardechois rock art, marked by animal representations and techniques of applying natural pigments. The cave remains a subject of study for archaeologists and historians of prehistoric art.
