P. E. Dubalen first explored the "Grotte du Pape" during 1881, followed by J. de Laporterie and Édouard Piette (1827–1906) from 1894 onwards. Since archaeological excavation techniques were then only starting to be developed, they paid little attention to the stratigraphy of the site containing the remains. In 1892 the site was pillaged and disturbed almost beyond reconstruction by a field visit of amateurs from the "Association française pour l’avancement de la science". Nevertheless, Piette described layers attributed to the late and middle Solutrean period. He termed the bottom levels he reached as "éburnéen" (pale or white like ivory), in reference to the copious amounts of ivory works which they contained. Modern reanalysis of the site has been performed under the direction of Henri Delporte during 1981–2000.