​Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport presents to UNESCO the Preventive Conservation Plan for Cave of Altamira

The Spanish delegation was headed up by the Director-General of Fine Arts, Cultural Assets, and Archives and Libraries, Miguel Ángel Recio; the Scientific Director of the research programme, Gaël de Guichen; the Deputy Director-General for Historic Heritage, Elisa de Cabo and Altamira Museum Director, José Antonio Lasheras. On behalf of UNESCO, the delegation was received by the Director of the World Heritage Centre, Kishore Rao and the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán.

After explaining the details of the research being carried out at the Cave of Altamira, the Director-General of Fine Arts expressed his interest in maintaining UNESCO appraised of the progress being made within the framework of the Preventive Conservation Plan.

Experimental visits continue to the cave

In the month of September, the Altamira Museum Trustees decided to take on the recommendations of the scientific team and continue with the experimental visits to the cave until February 2015. The aim of this measure is to obtain data on a whole year of visits since their commencement in February 2014.

The visits, of a scientific nature, are necessary to measure the effects of human presence in the Cave of Altamira. Once a week, a group of five people chosen at random from among the visitors to the museum, enter the cave following the established protocols for access.

These protocols establish the duration of the visit at 37 minutes, with a route with time periods established for each stop and appropriate clothing: disposable suits, hat, face mask and special footwear provided by the museum.

The scientific information gathered between February 2014 and February 2015 will be evaluated and a decision taken on whether to modify the number of weekly visitors.

Permanent control of the cave

The Preventive Conservation Plan defines and establishes the conservation strategy for the Cave of Altamira. This plan, coordinated by the Spanish Institute of Cultural Heritage undertakes an ongoing monitoring and control process of the risks that affect or may affect the Cave of Altamira and its environment, with particular attention paid to the Hall of Cave Paintings.