Located in France, Chauvet Cave is home to some of the world’s oldest prehistoric drawings — dating back about 36,000 years. Due to the site’s value and delicacy, it’s been closed off to the public, preventing people from experiencing the space today. In response, Google has launched an AR exhibit of Chauvet Cave to bring people closer to human history.
This digital exhibit, called Meet Our Ancestors, brings users face to face with hundreds of digitalized areas of the cave and related objects, tours of which can be guided by Daisy Ridley or Cécile de France, depending on which language you want to explore the cave in.
For the first time, discover one of humanity’s oldest masterpieces, now accessible to everyone. #MeetOurAncestors https://t.co/ihcZBGH6sy
🏛️ La grotte Chauvet pic.twitter.com/VGRJSyFpkg
— Google Arts&Culture (@googlearts) February 27, 2020
For those who don’t have a VR headset at their disposal, modified versions of the tours are available on YouTube. Searching for the cave on Google’s Search platform will also prompt a “View in 3D” button which, when tapped on, lets users check out the cave on their phone in augmented reality.
Last year, Google Arts & Culture created a similar exhibit of the Château de Versailles, also located in France. Both demonstrate the company’s ambition to make art from across the world more accessible to everyone.
This story first appeared on AFP Relaxnews.
