Historic Chad site defaced

This item appears on page 4 of the May 2017 issue.

The cave paintings at Ennedi, northern Chad, were defaced with graffiti on an unknown date. The art at the site in the Sahara depicts human and animal forms and dates back more more than 8,000 years, before the area became desert. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. 

The graffiti was written in French and Arabic, and Chadian officials believe that locals are responsible. Restorationists are unsure if the graffiti can be removed without damaging the original images.