Buried treasure: How four teenagers stumbled upon the Lascaux cave paintings

A chance discovery by French schoolboys 80 years ago led to one of the most significant archaeological finds in the world. David Barnett tells the astonishing tale of a window opening into prehistoric society

Historic visit in 1940 by the light of acetylene lamps, In the middle, with arms outstretched, are Abbe Breuil and Count Begouen. Seated in front of them, Jacques Marsal, left, and Marcel Ravidat, right. (Alamy)

The story of the discovery of the prehistoric cave paintings in Lascaux, in the Dordogne region of southwest France, is one worthy of a Boys’ Own adventure ripping yarn. On 12 September 1940, Marcel Ravidat, aged 18, was walking his dog Robot in the hills outside the town of Montignac. Robot, scampering along the hillside, suddenly disappeared from view.

Marcel ran over to where his dog had last been seen and discovered he had fallen down a hidden hole, and was lost from view. The teenager ran back to the town to gather his three friends, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel, and Simon Coencas, and together they effected a rescue of the stricken Robot.

They climbed down a 50ft-long shaft, shuffling through on their elbows in some cases. Excitement was growing among the four; there were long-standing rumours about the tunnels that crisscrossed the area, and that one of them led to buried treasure.