Lights and shadows on the conservation of a rock art cave: The case of Lascaux Cave.

Abstract

Lascaux Cave was discovered in 1940. Twenty years after the first microbial contamination signs appeared. In the last forty years thecave suffered different fungal invasions. Here we discuss the past, present and future of the cave and the conservation of its rock artpaintings to the light of data obtained using culture-dependent and –independent methods.

Keywords

• Rock art paintings
• bacteria
• fungi
• benzalkonium chloride
• conservation of paintings
• Lascaux