Virtual Lascaux is the brainchild of Benjamin Britton, assistant professor of electronic art at the University of Cincinnati. He was inspired to "connect the past to the future" when, after five years of asking, he was eventually allowed a see the caves for himself. Britton and his team of artists and computer experts have recreated them in three dimensions using texture maps - computer programs that vary the shadow and light on the cave walls to make them look like the real thing. The prehistoric art gallery was repainted by scanning in images of the paintings from books.
Britton has added his own "secret dimension". Visitors can fly through walls to explore inaccessible areas of Lascaux and see the prehistoric creatures "come to life" and leap from the paintings.