The Sorcerer, Cave with prehistoric art in Trois Frères, Ariège, France
This wall painting shows a figure with features of several animals on a rock face inside the cave of Trois Frères in the French department of Ariège. The figure combines elements such as antlers, a tail and paws into a depiction about 75 centimeters (30 inches) tall.
The sons of Count Henri Bégouen found the cave during World War I on the family estate. The researcher Henri Breuil documented the paintings over nearly two decades and made them known in the scientific world.
The elevated position of the figure on the wall shows how the cave was used as a space with different levels. Visitors today can understand how deliberately the painters selected specific spots for their motifs.
The cave is part of a larger cave system and sits in a region with several prehistoric sites. Access is limited to protect the delicate paintings.
At another spot in the cave an engraved bison bone was found showing a grasshopper. This representation is considered the oldest known depiction of an insect in prehistoric art.
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