MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MALTRAVIESO CAVE (CACERES), SPAIN

Maltravieso Cave is located in the city of Caceres. It is a cavity som e 130 m long that was formed by karstic activity in carboniferous lime stone with thin interbedded layers of clay slate covered by a layer of vegetation. The cave is decorated in rupestrian paintings from the Mi ddle Auriginacian. Samples were taken from the walls, floors and ceili ngs of the rooms to verify both the degree of contamination and to qua ntify the presence of different groups of environmentally important mi croorganisms. The degree of contamination was generally high. Cyanobac teria appeared in abundance despite the poor light in the Cave. Faecal indicators were also found. Nitrogen cycle, proteolytic and amylolyti c bacteria were detected, as well as some yeasts and molds. Unless mea sures are taken, such as closing off and cleaning the cave, the high n umber of microorganisms detected will cause serious damage to the pain tings. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.