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Tens of thousands of ancient pictures
carved into the rocks at one of France's most important tourist sites are being
gradually destroyed. Scientists and researchers fear that the 36,000 drawings
on rocks in Mont Bego in the French Alps are being damaged so rapidly that they
will not survive for future generations.
The mountain, believed to have once
been a site for prayer, is scattered (散布) with 4,000-year-old drawings cut into
bare rock. They include pictures of cows with horns, cultivated fields and
various gods and goddesses. But as the popularity of the site increases, the
pictures are being ruined by thoughtless graffiti (涂鸦).
Jean Clottes is the chairman of the
International Committee on Rock Art. He says, "People think that because
the pictures have been there so long they will always continue to be there. But
if the damage continues at this rate there will be nothing left in 50 years."
He describes seeing tourists stamping
on the drawings, wearing away the rock and definition (清晰) of the artwork as they do so. Some
visitors, he says, even cut off parts to take home as souvenirs. "When
people think they can't take a good enough photograph, they rub the drawings to
get a clearer picture," he said. "The drawings are polished by the
weather, and if the sun is shining and the visitors can't see them properly
they simply rub them to make them look fresher." Other researchers
describe how people arrive carrying long sticks with sharp ends to scratch (刮) their own drawings, or even their
names, in the rocks.
But experts are divided over the best
way to preserve the drawings. Henry de Lumley, director of the Museum of
Natural History in Paris, believes that the only way to save the site is to
turn the whole mountain into a "no-go" area, preventing the public
from going there except on guided tours. Otherwise, he says, not only will the
site be completely destroyed but important research work will be reduced.
Clottes disagrees, "The measure
suggested by Henry de Lumley is the most severe, and while it is the most
effective, it is also certain to bring about protests from people who live
there," he said. "The site was classified as a historic monument
years ago by the Ministry of Culture, and we must do as much as possible to
save what is there."
David Lavergne, the regional architect,
also wants to avoid closing the site. "Henry de Lumley's idea isn't ideal,"
he said. "Our department feels that the best solution is to let people
look at the site, but because the area is very big it is difficult to prevent
visitors from damaging it. I would prefer that everyone was able to look at it,
but the main problem is money. We do not have the funds to employ the necessary
number of guards. We may have to consider charging a fee. It doesn't seem to be
possible to get the government support."
