Ancient rock art in Western Australia has maintained its colors because it is alive, researchers have determined. Obviously most art fades in a few hundred years but the "Bradshaw art" has looked good for 40,000.
Bacteria and fungi have made homes in there, preserving the color, though making it difficult to accurately date. A black fungus like Chaetothyriales cannibalizes its ancestors, making a 'biofilm' that can muddy the waters for research.
