Cueva del Tesoro in danger from extending fungus

REPRESENTATIVES from the Junta de Andalucia visited the Cueva del Tesoro in Rincon de la Victoria following complaints of algae and fungus growing in the cave.

The cave, which was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, was rented to the local town hall in 1991.

Last month, the owners requested that the Junta de Andalucia take “urgent action” to prevent the algae and fungus, caused by damp and poor lighting, from extending further, as it is “eating away” at the stone.

There are important cave paintings in the Cuevas del Tesoro which could disappear if the problem continues to extend.

Although the owners are the custodians of the site, the administrative custodian is the Junta de Andalucia, which in turn authorizes the town hall to manage and conserve it.

The owners however, complain that the conservation is not being carried out properly and that algae and fungus has extended over the past decade.

The owners have requested a report into the state of the cave from the Andalucian Ombudsman.

The Culture Delegate clarified that it would be the town hall that would be required to act but that it wouldn’t have a high cost.

The local tourism councillor, on the other hand, says the upkeep of the cave is up to the owners and said it was unfair to blame it on the current team in power in the town who have been in office less than a year.

She also pointed out that the town hall had requested a €755,000 grant from the Junta to put an end to the problem.