Two research programmes relating to "The microbial ecology of the Lascaux cave" have been carried out. The first between 2009 and 2011 and the second between 2014 and 2017.
The first programme, 2009–2011
At the end of 2011, the programme "The microbial ecology of the Lascaux cave" led by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in Dijon and the Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia in Seville, was evaluated by the members of the Scientific Advisory Board. Aimed at gaining a better understanding of the cave's microbiological landscape, the programme brought together specialists from different institutions, thereby promoting scientific exchange.
The second programme, 2014–2017
Given the value of this work, the Scientific Advisory Board wished for this detailed approach to the ecosystem to be continued. Based the specifications drawn up by the Scientific Advisory Board, the Conservation régionale des monuments historiques d’Aquitaine (Regional Conservation of Historic Monuments in Aquitaine) launched a call for tenders in January 2013, with a view to recruiting the coordinator of a new programme on "The microbial ecology of the Lascaux cave". The contract was awarded to Professor Yvan Möenne-Loccoz, a microbiologist and director of the CNRS Microbial Ecology Joint Research Unit at the University of Lyon 1.
Following on from the work begun during the previous research programme, the approach developed aims to take into account all the microbial communities and the balance between them in order to act on the biotope that encourages the appearance of imbalances rather than eliminating the seemingly dominant species. This programme should provide us with a better understanding of the micro-organisms responsible for visible contamination by characterising the agents that produce the blemishes and their biochemical composition.