Final answer:
Prehistoric people were the first to excavate hard rock tunnels, as seen in cave sites like Chauvet Cave in France. These tunnels provided insights into the lives of ancient people. However, there have also been instances where archaeological sites have been damaged during tunnel construction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first hard rock tunnels were excavated by prehistoric people. They created tunnel-like structures in caves to access different areas of the cave or to create shelter.
For example, in the Chauvet Cave in France, archaeologists discovered tunnels made by prehistoric inhabitants as they explored the cave for the first time. The walls of these tunnels were covered with red ocher drawings, providing valuable insights into the lives of these ancient people.
Similarly, in other sites like Stonehenge, there have been instances where holes were drilled into archaeological sites as part of tunnel construction projects, causing damage to historical structures and artifacts.