He has the intellect of a caveman.
A clueless tourist poured water on ancient cave paintings to take better photos for social media and is now being investigated after sharing the damaged images, according to authorities.
The 39-year-old man from Los Villares, Spain, wanted clearer and brighter pictures of the priceless works, which were created thousands of years ago in the Sierra Sur de Jaén mountain range, local law enforcement reported.
To capture the perfect image, he splashed water on the ancient paintings – a site considered historically significant by the country’s heritage group – and later shared the wet photos on Facebook, according to Guardia Civil’s nature protection force.
The ancient art is created on limestone, which contains water-soluble salts that dissolve in liquid, leaving a crust that causes irreparable damage to the paintings, officials explained, as reported by The Daily Beast.
The individual who thoughtlessly poured water on the paintings is now facing scrutiny as the authorities look into the matter.
The exact timing of the vandalism and the specific content of the artwork are not immediately known, but some cave paintings in the area feature faded stick-figure designs smudged in black.
Some of the paintings in the stunning mountain range are believed to be over 6,000 years old.
