This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/altamira-cave-paintings-open-public-spain-cantabria

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Altamira cave paintings to be opened to the public once again Altamira cave paintings to be opened to the public once again
(35 minutes later)
For 12 years, visitors wanting to see the prized prehistoric paintings in Spain's Altamira cave have had to settle for a replica in a museum a few hundred feet away. For 12 years, visitors wanting to see Spain's prized prehistoric Altamira cave paintings have had to settle for a replica in a museum a few hundred feet away.
But from Thursday, small groups of visitors will once again be allowed in the cave, which has been described as the Sistine Chapel of paleolithic art, as part of an experiment to determine whether the paintings can support the presence of sightseers. But from Thursday, small groups of visitors will again be allowed in the cave, which has been described as the Sistine Chapel of paleolithic art, as part of an experiment to determine whether the paintings can support the presence of sightseers.
The vast cave complex, in the Cantabria region of northern Spain, was made a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985. It is covered in paintings, thought to be between 14,000 and 20,000 years old, depicting herds of European bison, bulls and other animals. The vast cavern complex, in the Cantabria region of northern Spain, was made a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985. It is covered in paintings dated to between 14,000 and 20,000 years ago of animals including European bison and bulls.
From now until August, on a randomly selected day of the week , those visiting the replica cave in the Museo de Altamira will be invited to enter a draw; five people will be chosen to take a guided tour that will include 37 minutes inside the cave. Visitors will be outfitted with special suits, masks and shoes before entering the site. From now until August, on a randomly selected day of the week, visitors to the replica cave in the Museo de Altamira will be invited to enter a draw; five will be chosen to take a guided tour including 37 minutes inside the cave. Visitors will have to put on special suits, masks and shoes before entering the site.
Up to 192 people in total are expected to visit the cave. While they admire the red and black paintings lining the limestone walls, researchers will be measuring the impact of the tour group on the cave's temperature, humidity, microbiological contamination and CO2 levels. Up to 192 lucky winners are expected to visit the cave in total. While they admire the red and black paintings on the limestone walls, researchers will measure their impact on the cave's temperature, humidity, microbiological contamination and CO2 levels.
The results will be used to determine whether or not the cave can be reopened to the public, a controversial decision that has pitted the local tourist economy against government scientists.The results will be used to determine whether or not the cave can be reopened to the public, a controversial decision that has pitted the local tourist economy against government scientists.
The site has been closed several times, starting in 1977 after scientists warned that body heat and CO2 levels from the 3,000 daily visitors were deteriorating the paintings. When the cave was re-opened again, to a limited amount of visitors, the waiting list swelled, leaving people waiting up to three years to get a glimpse of the prehistoric masterpieces.The site has been closed several times, starting in 1977 after scientists warned that body heat and CO2 levels from the 3,000 daily visitors were deteriorating the paintings. When the cave was re-opened again, to a limited amount of visitors, the waiting list swelled, leaving people waiting up to three years to get a glimpse of the prehistoric masterpieces.
The cave was again closed to the public in 2002 after scientists blamed body heat, light and moisture for the appearance of green mould on some of the paintings.The cave was again closed to the public in 2002 after scientists blamed body heat, light and moisture for the appearance of green mould on some of the paintings.
Since then, the regional government of Cantabria has been lobbying for the site to be reopened. "Altamira is a valuable asset that we cannot afford to do without," Miguel Ángel Revilla, former head of the regional government of Cantabria, told El País. "Every famous person who comes here wants to visit it. I've had to tell Jacques Chirac and Felipe Calderón of Mexico that they couldn't." Since then, the regional government of Cantabria has been lobbying for the site to be reopened. "Altamira is a valuable asset that we cannot afford to do without," Miguel Ángel Revilla, former head of the regional government of Cantabria, told El País. "Every famous person who comes here wants to visit it. I've had to tell [former presidents] Jacques Chirac of France and Felipe Calderón of Mexico that they couldn't."
His position runs counter to that of scientists at the government's main research body. In a 2010 report, researchers with the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas warned of the dangers of letting visitors into the cave complex. His position runs counter to that of scientists at the government's main research body. A 2010 report, by the Spanish National Research Council warned of the dangers of letting visitors into the complex.
"The people who go in the cave have the bad habit of moving, breathing and perspiring," was one of the report's conclusions. The report made it very clear that the cave shouldn't be open to visitors, lead researcher Sergio Sánchez Moral recently told Público.es, warning: "The consequences of doing so are immeasurable." "The people who go in the cave have the bad habit of moving, breathing and perspiring," was one of the conclusions. The report made it very clear that the cave shouldn't be open to visitors, lead researcher Sergio Sánchez Moral recently told Público.es, warning: "The consequences of doing so are immeasurable."
José Antonio Lasheras, the director of the Museo de Altamira, defended the decision. The tours, he said, were part of a carefully calculated equation to find a balance between conservation efforts and making the country's heritage as accessible as possible. José Antonio Lasheras, director of the Museo de Altamira, defended the decision. The tours, he said, were part of a carefully calculated equation to find a balance between conservation efforts and making the country's heritage as accessible as possible.
While the museum's replica of the cave may give people a sense of the place, he said, "the emotion: we can't give that. The emotion can come only from being inside the cave of Altamira."While the museum's replica of the cave may give people a sense of the place, he said, "the emotion: we can't give that. The emotion can come only from being inside the cave of Altamira."
Opening the cave to visitors, said Lasheras, could be likened to hanging a painting by Velázquez in the Museo Nacional del Prado, or one by Turner in Tate Britain.Opening the cave to visitors, said Lasheras, could be likened to hanging a painting by Velázquez in the Museo Nacional del Prado, or one by Turner in Tate Britain.
"We also take a risk when we hang our best paintings in museums," he said. "We don't put these paintings in Trafalgar Square, where more people would see them; nor do we keep them in a closed-off room, where nobody would see them. It's a controlled risk.""We also take a risk when we hang our best paintings in museums," he said. "We don't put these paintings in Trafalgar Square, where more people would see them; nor do we keep them in a closed-off room, where nobody would see them. It's a controlled risk."