Lascaux

1940
12 September – Lascaux discovered by four boys near Montignac (Dordogne).
December – Classification of cave as a Historic Monument.

1947
Work begins to accommodate cave for public access: widening of the entrance, installation of electricity and a metal door.

1948
Lascaux opens to the public.

1955
First signs of deterioration appear in the cave due to excess carbon dioxide levels produced by large numbers of visitors.

1957
First air-conditioning system is installed.

1960
Proliferation of algae on the cave walls: “The Green Sickness”.
Calcite begins to form over the paintings: “The White Sickness”.

1962
Green stains rapidly develop next to some of the cave’s paintings.

1963
Cave is closed to the public. Air-conditioning machine is turned off.
The Minister of Culture appoints a scientific commission to “…study the changes inside the cave, find remedies and bring the cave back to stable conditions".

1963 – 1965
Treatment of the algae and bacteria by spraying antibiotics: ineffective after second spraying.
The Pasteur Institute recommends application of formalin to the affected areas.
Treatment is successful and rids the cave of the “green sickness”.

1965 – 1967
Installation of a new cooling system which works by convection with cave’s natural air currents.

1976
The cave is stabilized. Scientific commission disbands.

1998
Lichens discovered growing inside the cave.

1999
Decision to replace the system of temperature control in the cave.

2000
Work begins on replacement of convection air recirculation system.
Fungi appear in engine room; in one year they colonize the cave.
Strong allegations of contamination point to the workers not wearing sterilized boots.

2001
Installation of the new forced air cooling system is completed.
New fungus found on the cave’s walls and in airlock entrance; spreads rapidly through cave.
Machine is shut down as authorities soon realize it is ill fitted for the cave. Only partial system of the machine is in effect.
Massive doses of fungicide and antibiotics sprayed but ineffective; the fungus reappears within weeks. The treatment leaves large spots four to six inches in diameter on the cave walls.
New emergency measure: quicklime spread over the cave’s floor.

2002
July - New scientific commission appointed by the Minister of Culture “…to evaluate the effects of emergency treatments and their effect on the preservation of the paintings and engravings.”
Massive antibiotic spraying ineffective; treatments are stopped.

2003
New treatment: mechanical removal of the roots of the fungi. Teams of workers inside the cave during these treatments.
The first articles breaking the silence around Lascaux appear in La Recherche, Le Point and The Wall Street Journal.

2004
Fourth article published in Le Festin d’Aquitaine.

2005
Propagation of fungus growth slows down due to mechanical removal of roots but is not completely eliminated. Teams of workers still needed inside the cave to carry out work.

New colonies of black spots appear near the entrance of the cave. They are reported but not immediately analyzed or treated.

May 16 – TIME features the crisis in Lascaux on its cover.

The black spots continue to proliferate at alarming speed. By year’s end they have spread thought out the cave, covering some paintings and completely covering the head of the black cow.

The white calcite, particular to Lascaux’s brilliant images, has turned grey.

Biologists are unable to determine the species, cause and treatment of the black spots.

The ill-fitted air machine is operating on a partial basis and remains in place.

The cave is now very wet and water can be seen running down many of the paintings.

In an effort to remove responsibility from them, French authorities make misleading statements to the public and suggest that Lascaux’s crisis is simply a continuation of a chronic sickness.

The black spots, some as large as human hands, continue to run rampant in the cave.