The Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave in the Ardèche department of southern France is a cave that contains the earliest known and best preserved figurative cave paintings in the world, approximately 32,000–30,000 BP, as well as other evidence of Upper Paleolithic life. Discovered on December 18, 01994, it is considered one of the most significant prehistoric art sites and the UN’s cultural agency UNESCO granted it the World Heritage status on June 22, 02014. The cave has been sealed off to the public since its discovery in 01994. Access is severely restricted owing to the experience with decorated caves such as Lascaux found in the 20th century, where the admission of visitors on a large scale led to the growth of mould on the walls that damaged the art in places.