NEW YORK, NY.- In the Anzota Caves of Chile, there are a series of ancient cave paintings that date back thousands of years. These were paintings reportedly done by the indigenous Tiwanaku people, who lived in the area during the pre-Columbian period. Their paintings consist of a series of animals and boats, all of which are dated to around 1400 years ago.

Sadly, it’s recently been discovered that vandals visiting the caves and creating modern, brightly coloured graffiti on the walls of the cave have damaged the paintings beyond repair.

The graffiti has sparked outcry for many, with some blaming both the tourists for creating the graffiti, and the local government for not taking more responsibility for the important historical paintings.

Paths to the caves were restored by the Chilean government in the 1960s in a bid to try and attract more tourists to the area. The effort worked, but unfortunately the government didn’t put any means in place to stop tourists from directly accessing the paintings.

It’s unclear exactly when the graffiti was sprayed over the paintings, but it’s likely the accumulation of years of vandalism by a countless number of tourists. The site, despite being regarded as a preserved, historical area, had not received any security of anti-vandalism measures from the government.

The discovery was first made public thanks to singer Felope Sandoval. He took pictures of the vandalised paintings and posted them on his social media accounts to allow the public to view the damage that had been done.

He later remarked, “Outrageous. The cave paintings of the camelids, belonging to the Tiwanaku culture in the caves of Anzota, Arica … were striped with spray paint. Irreparable damage to our heritage.”

Public Reaction to The Damage
The vandalism has been met with outcry from the public, with many saying that people of the modern era hold no respect for ancient cultures, and that there are many out there that don’t appreciate how precious historical sites truly are.

Many fear that in a modern age of smartphones, fast food, pokies online, and celebrity-obsession, there has been a gradual loss in the interest in history, which is followed closely by a general disdain for relics and artefacts that are important as links to our ancestors and our past.

The Chilean government has recognised that the vandalism has occurred, and Minister of Public Works has stated that the graffiti on the paintings is not new. He also stated that yet, there have been no attempts at cleaning the graffiti off, in fear that any cleaning might also remove the paintings.

Despite the belief that the paintings are damaged beyond repair, experts will be required to visit the area and see if any of the ancient artworks can be restored.

Some believe that there is a silver lining to the situation as the increased public awareness of the vandalism might force the government to start caring more for the Cuevas de Anzota, and that there may be an increase in overall security in the area.