Bacteria isolated from the rocks supporting prehistoric paintings in two shelters from Sierra de Cazorla,Jaen,Spain

The Sierra de Cazorla, Jaen, Spain, is characterized by the presence of a number of shelters or smallcavities with important late prehistoric paintings,the so-called schematic rock art painting. The microbial population of the rocks supporting paintings from two shelters was investigated. Bacteria isolated from Cueva del Encajero triplicated the number of those isolated from Cueva de la Graja, as corresponded to a higher environmental humidity. However, the bacteria isolated from Cueva de la Graja were metabolically more active and able to use a higher number of carbon sources than those of Cueva del Encajero. As demonstrated by cluster analysis the microbial communities from both shelters are related, in spite of the different ecological conditions and geographical distribution.