- Title: Virtual reality brings prehistoric Lascaux caves back into view
- Date: 24th June 2021
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 23, 2021) (REUTERS) CONSERVATION MANAGER AT THE LASCAUX CAVES SINCE 2009, MURIEL MAURIAC TALKING TO TOUR GUIDE, DELPHINE DESHAYES, WITH VR HEADSET ON GROUP OF FIVE WEARING VR HEADSETS IN EMPTY ROOM WOMEN WEARING VR HEADSETS CRAWLING ON FLOOR GROUP TALKING / WOMAN WEARING VR HEADSET POINTING SOMETHING WITH HAND VR COMPUTER BACKPACK (SOUNDBITE) (French) VICE PRESIDENT OF INNOVATION AT 'DASSAULT SYSTEMES', MEHDI TAYOUBI, SAYING: "At the start of the project, we acquired a set of 3D data of the Lascaux cave, collected during several digitalisation campaigns. This data was then integrated to the software that we develop here, in this research lab. And using this data and this software, we built the different steps of this visit, of this expedition in the Lascaux cave. A life-size expedition, on a one to one scale."
- Embargoed: 8th July 2021 18:07
- Keywords: Cite de l'architecture et du patrimoine France Lascaux Lascaux cave VR Virtual reality archeology caves history prehistory science
- Location: PARIS AND NEAR MONTIGNAC, FRANCE / ANIMATION
- City: PARIS AND NEAR MONTIGNAC, FRANCE / ANIMATION
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA004EIRHTTZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Nearly six decades after France's prehistoric Lascaux caves were made off-limits, visitors will be once again able to tour the site - only this time in virtual reality.
The cave network, discovered in 1940 by a boy whose dog fell down a hole, contains paintings of animals, human figures and abstract signs that date back as far as 17,000 years.
"We have two sections that have not been seen (by the public) before," said Muriel Mauriac, conservation manager at the Lascaux caves. "No one could access them because you needed to find your way through very narrow passages."
From July 8th at the 'Cite de l'Architecture et du patrimoine' in Paris, groups of six people wearing virtual reality headsets will be able to take a 45-minute interactive tour through the 235 metre-long cave network, dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the prehistoric era.
The modelling of the cave was done by Dassault Systemes, a French company that also builds 3D models for auto and airplane design but also Egypt's Great Pyramid.
"We acquired a set of 3D data of the Lascaux cave, collected during several digitalization campaigns," said the head of innovations at Dassault Systemes Mehdi Tayoubi, "a life-size expedition, on a one to one scale."
The cave, located near the village of Montignac in France's Dordogne region, was closed to the public in 1963 after the carbon dioxide, heat and humidity of nearly 2,000 visitors a day began damaging the paintings.
In the most famous section, the Hall of the Bulls, horses, stags and a bear are depicted.
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