Werner Herzog To Create 3D Documentary On Ancient Cave Art

The legendary German filmmaker Werner Herzog, director of the classic movie Fitzcarraldo and the Grizzly Man documentary, is making what may be the world’s first 3D documentary on ancient cave art in Europe.

The Guardian reports that Herzog has been given permission by French authorities to film inside the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc cave, which is the site of some of the earliest known cave art paintings. The Chauvet cave, which was discovered in 1994, is closed to tourists but Herzog has been given full access to film the cave art paintings that date back at least 30,000 years.

“What is also strange,” Herzog reveals, “is that somebody [in the cave] started a painting and then they left. And it’s known that 3,500 years later somebody continued the painting. And then a bear that hibernated over it left scratch marks. And over the scratch marks there was man, bear, man, bear, man, bear, man [over time]. It’s like time does not occur – it’s completely fantastic.”