Authorities in Spain are investigating a case in which a man vandalized ancient cave paintings by pouring water on them to get a better photo for social media. The 39-year-old man from Los Villares in Andalusia poured water on the paintings in the Sierra Sur de Jaén mountain range to capture a clearer image for a Facebook post. The paintings, estimated to be more than 6,000 years old, are legally protected by a heritage register. The water spilled on the limestone walls can cause irreparable damage to the ancient artwork.
This incident is not an isolated case, as ancient cave art has been targeted by vandals in recent years. In 2022, a massive Spanish flag was spray-painted over a cave painting at a nearby site, and a painting in southern Australia dating back 22,000 years was vandalized with spray paint. In the U.S., vandals damaged thousand-year-old Native American rock carvings in Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest by scratching or painting over the petroglyphs.
These acts of vandalism have had devastating effects on the cultural heritage of these regions. The vandalism of ancient cave art is a serious crime against historical heritage and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting and preserving these ancient artifacts for future generations.
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