Uncovering the origin of the black stains in Lascaux Cave in France

Summary Lascaux Cave in France was discovered in 1940. Since being opened to visitors the cave has suffered three major microbial outbreaks. The current problem is the fast dissemination of black stains which are threatening the Palaeolithic paintings. Previous data pointed to the involvement of new...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental microbiology 2012-12, Vol.14 (12), p.3220-3231
Main Authors: Saiz-Jimenez, Cesareo, Miller, Ana Z., Martin-Sanchez, Pedro M., Hernandez-Marine, Mariona
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acremonium
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
Caves
Caves - chemistry
Caves - microbiology
Coloring Agents - analysis
Cyclophosphamide
Doxorubicin
France
Fungi - classification
Fungi - isolation & purification
History, 20th Century
Manganese Compounds - analysis
Oxides - analysis
Paintings - history
Podophyllotoxin
Sediments
Vincristine
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Summary:Summary Lascaux Cave in France was discovered in 1940. Since being opened to visitors the cave has suffered three major microbial outbreaks. The current problem is the fast dissemination of black stains which are threatening the Palaeolithic paintings. Previous data pointed to the involvement of new fungal species in the formation of black stains on the rock walls and ceiling. However, it appears that there could be other reasons for the formation of different and extensive black stains coating the surface of the clayey sediments. Our analyses reveal that black stains on clayey sediments are mainly produced by Acremonium nepalense, a manganese oxide‐depositing fungus, widely distributed in the cave. Thus, in Lascaux Cave, the black stains have a dual origin: on limestone rocks they are mainly produced by the accumulation of fungal melanins, and on clayey sediments by the biogenic deposition of black manganese oxides.
ISSN:1462-2912
1462-2920
DOI:10.1111/1462-2920.12008