Man Destroys a Cave Painting for a Facebook Photo
A man has been accused of vandalizing a 6,000-year-old cave painting in southern Spain so it looked better for a Facebook photo.
Police are investigating the case after a 39-year-old poured a bottle of water over the precious paintings so they would stand out more for his photo.
The man from Los Villares in Andalucia, southern Spain, may be in trouble for his crime against historical heritage.
The case was sparked after officers from the Guardia Civil Nature Protection Service (Seprona) spotted the photos.
“The photographs show that water has been poured onto the cave paintings, wetting them in order to see them better and capture a clearer image,” the police say.
CNN reports that the cave paintings were made on limestone, which contains water-soluble salts. It means if the paintings come into contact with water, the salts dissolve and come to the surface. When the water evaporates, it leaves a crust that causes “irreparable damage” to the paintings.
The paintings are in the Sierra Sur de Jaén mountain range and are listed for protection under the country’s heritage register. They date back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, approximately between 5,000 and 2,000 B.C. This places them among some of the oldest known examples of human art in the region.
Spain’s national law enforcement agency, which is responsible for protecting the country’s historical heritage, wants residents to report any signs of damage or vandalism to cave paintings.
Trampling on Precious Artifacts for a Social Media Photo
Sadly, people in 2024 will all too happily vandalize a historical and precious artifact for a great photo to share on social media.
Last September, PetaPixel reported on a German who climbed a 16th-century statue in Florence, Italy so he could pose for a photo.
The 22-year-old was detained by cops after he damaged the Fountain of Neptune, commissioned in 1558 by the Florentine duke Cosim de’ Medici and placed in Piazza della Signoria.
A chunk of marble was knocked off from the sea god’s chariot and one of the horse’s hoofs was cracked. The repair bill was estimated to be $5,370 (€5,000).
Image credits: La Guardia Civil.
