 He was (together with Breuill and Marcellin Boule) one of the founders of "Institut de paléontologie humaine" in Paris (following a generous donation from Albert I).When Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola's daughter María discovered the paintings in Altamira and Sautuola, together with professor Vilanova, published their findings in 1880, Cartailhac was one of the leaders of the scientists who, suddenly facing a revolutionary change in the view of the prehistoric man, ridiculed these paintings at the 1880 Prehistorical Congress in Lisbon.Due to this opinion, the members of the congress did not even visit Altamira.