Lascaux Cave: History and preservation of prehistoric art

Discovered in September 1940 by four teenagers in Montignac, France, the Lascaux cave contains approximately 2,000 prehistoric paintings and engravings. These artworks, depicting animals such as horses, aurochs, deer, and bison, are estimated to be between 21,000 and 21,500 years old.

Although the cave opened to the public in 1948, it was closed in April 1963 to protect the site from damage caused by high visitor numbers. Issues such as humidity, light, and carbon dioxide from breath led to the growth of algae, known as ‘green sickness’.

To allow public access while preserving the original site, visitors can now view highly accurate replicas. These include Lascaux II, opened in 1983, and Lascaux IV, the International Centre for Cave Art, which opened in 2016.