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Also known as Grotte de las Agnelas. Grotte de Gabillou is the only decorated cave in the valley of the Isle river, in the commune of Sourzac, near Mussidan
Although it is very close to the Vezérès Valley. Where there are 37 caves, and great cave art. From the paleolithic time period, and onwards.


In 1941, the sandy maastrichtian limestone cave was discovered
Subsequently it was announced and classified as a historic monument in 1942.
Its north western end is obstructed by another building. And, was once expanded by a man, who had used it, as a store room

About 15 years later the property the cave lies on went up for sale
A Frenchman bought the property. Where cave access was only possible though his basement. Around another 10 years later he published a book on the cave, and drawings. As of 2015, only researchers with relevant qualifications are allowed to study the cave.

The length of the cave is twenty-seven meters, with slim passages of between fifty and sixty cm wide
To the end, the cave widens and forms the “Room of the Red Horse”.


Inside contains more than 200 ornaments, fifty-six horses, twenty-one reindeers, eighteen birds, twelve bisons, eight ibex and some bears and rabbits
Other engravings depict a woman giving birth. And, a horned bearded man-like figure. With a foot, and leg which resembles the one of a human. It is known as the Grotte de Gabillou ‘sorcerer’.
Gabillou also contains a wide variety of abstract signs
Dots, open-angle signs, ovals, pectiforms, penniforms, quadrangles, triangles, and more.


Scientists have compared horses in Gabillou
Noting sensorial organs like eyes, ears, mouth and nose. They stated this caves symbols are exaggerated compared to others like at the Cave de Lacaux.



Lamps
The cave also contained a series of lamps and spearheads.
Its remote location, where people can see it privatly, draws attention to the difference between Gabillou, the larger Lascaux and other caves that are tourist attractions. Rather then kept in privacy. Chambers could accommodate far greater numbers of visitors. Modernizing something that some people prefer be kept private anyways.
Bibliography: “Grotte de Las Agnelas ou de Gabillou” (https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00083008). http://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr.
David, Pierre; Hervé, Martine; Gauthier, J.; Malvesin-Fabre, G. (1952). “La grotte à gravures de Gabillou” (https://www.persee.fr/doccrai_0065-0536_1952_num_96_1_9885). Comptes rendusdes séances de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. 96 (1): 116–118.doi:10.3406/crai.1952.9885 (https://doi.org/10.3406%2Fcrai.1952.9885).
Petrognani, Stéphane; Sauvet, Georges (2012). “La parenté formelle des grottes de Lascaux et de Gabillou est-elle formellement établie?” (https://www.jstor.org/stable/24363962). Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française. 109 (3): 446. ISSN 0249-7638 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0249-7638).
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