It is doubtless that the
cave paintings and engravings constitute one of the most powerful relics of human
prehistory. Paradoxically, a century after that the scientific society recognizes its
importance (1902) the state of conservation of the discovered representations is, except
for rare exceptions, lamentable and in many cases they are unrecognizable.
As all material things the cave art is
subject to dangers that can even cause their degradation and the loss, but after thousands
of years of existence is the human intervention that determinates its precarious
situation. Spain, that lodges great part of the cave paintings world-wide, shows us the
result of the rests left after the ill-fated treatment supported by this type of
manifestations, demonstrating the causes that have placed them to the brink of
disappearance:
• The paradigms and method of a
developing science: Archaeology.
Macrophotograf of the damage caused by tracing a
figure (Cave of El Pindal). Photo: Zugarto Ed.
• The carelessness of the official
authority responsible for its protection. In Spain, the first measures of protection on
the shelters, caves and places with rock art, only went to isolated cases, until 16/1985.
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