Spain reopens ancient masterpieces at the Altamira cave to a select few
The Altamira cave has reopened to a handful of visitors, giving them a glimpse of 14,000 year-old bison and other examples of spectacular ancient art. Renowned for vivid paintings of beasts and animal-headed humans, the Altamira cave closed in 2002 because human breath and microscopic fungi introduced by visitors threatened to ruin the paint.
The Altamira cave has reopened to a handful of visitors, giving them a glimpse of 14,000 year-old bison and other examples of spectacular ancient art.
Renowned for vivid paintings of beasts and animal-headed humans, the Altamira cave closed in 2002 because human breath and microscopic fungi introduced by visitors threatened to ruin the paint.
On Thursday it reopened for five lucky visitors, chosen by lot from ticket-holders at a nearby museum that houses replicas of the paintings at Santillana del Mar, in the Spain's far north.
"It is very impressive. You see all sorts of details... they seem to stare at you from out of the darkness," journalist Javier Ors said after visiting.
"There is a life-size deer which looks like a female that is pregnant. That was impressive."
Another visitor, Andrea Vicente, said she was "very moved" by the experience.