17,000 years ago, someone filled a cave in Lascaux, France with paintings, discovered in 1940 by a few teenagers and their dog. If you’ve ever taken an art history course, you’re likely familiar with these ethereal images.
But now it seems that nature is attempting to take the cave back, sending typically cave-dwelling fungi, molds and lichen to reclaim the galleries. Air conditioning systems, sprays and quicklime have all been employed to preserve the cave’s interior.
Part of me laments the potential loss of such an interesting piece of art history, and part of me feels content that this is simply the way of things, and would like to point out that it is our meddling that’s created a problem that wasn’t a problem for thousands of years. We’ve already learned so much about the people who created the cave galleries, and many more people will experience the caves through images than real life anyway. Adieu, Lascaux, and thanks.
