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by petargyurov 7 days ago
I've been to the Altamira cave reproduction and I was skeptical at first on whether I'd feel immersed but they've done an incredible job of it. You quickly forget it's "fake" and sink back into time... It's marvellous.

It makes me wonder how much palaeolithic art has been lost because it wasn't done inside a cave.
2 comments
hilariously 7 days ago
Most of it. Probably 99.99999% type of thing - when I was in Grotte de Cussac there was external markings and it was clear that weathering was to blame for only having what's in the caves.
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embedding-shape 7 days ago
My first reaction upon seeing the article, was to figure out how I can see these paintings in person, and seems you cannot anymore, they don't accept visitor requests unless you have a scientific/research purpose which I don't :/

So this reproduction you're talking about, it's the "Neocueva" from Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira I suppose? I guess it'll serve as a better than nothing, but similar to you, I'm really skeptical it'd be the same for me. Just being aware it's a reproduction I feel like kind of defeats the purpose. I want to feel the spirits of my ancestors when I'm there.

Seems there are more caves with paintings though, another one is Cueva de El Castillo at Monte Castillo, Puente Viesgo, Cantabria. Anyone here from HN that visited those caves before and could share their experience?

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nemomarx 7 days ago
France has a few like the Lascaux caves, and I really remember my time going fondly. But I think they also had to move to a replica because of possible damage to the art from so much human breathing or similar?

It's hard to find an original one that hasn't already gone through this cycle unfortunately. Maybe ones with booked tours at invitation only fare better?

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embedding-shape 7 days ago
> But I think they also had to move to a replica because of possible damage to the art from so much human breathing or similar?

Yeah, makes sense that'd eventually damage it. Also people moving around pushing the air around. The fact that time stood still in the places is probably the reason they're so well preserved in the first place.

Wonder if you could like glass them in or something, to really isolate them? Feels kind of sad knowing I'd damage the drawings by visiting them in person, but also really want to see them.

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