Emergency Intervention for the Geo-Mechanical Conservation of the Niches of Bamiyan Buddhas (Northern Afghanistan) (C101-3)

Abstract

The historical site of Bamiyan is affected by geomorphological deformation processes which were enhanced during the Talibans’ bombing in March 2001, when the two standing Buddhas, dating back to sixth century a.d. were destroyed. An invaluable cultural heritage was irremediably lost and the consequences of the explosions, as well as the collapse of the giant statues, added greatly to the geological instability of the area. Traces of rocks recently slid and fallen are relevant proofs of the deterioration of its stability conditions and most parts appear prone to collapse in the near future.

Under the coordination of the UNESCO, a global project to assess the feasibility conditions for the site’s restoration was developed; field data were collected and a mechanism for the potential cliff and niches’ evolution was provided. In the mean time some consolidation works were carried out in the most critical rock fall-prone areas to avoid any further collapse in the coming winter season, but also to enable archaeologists the safe cataloguing and recovering of the Buddha statues’ remains, still laying on the floor of the niches. The emergency activities started in October 2003 and included: the installation of a monitoring system, the realization of temporary supports for the unstable blocks, the stabilization of the upper-eastern and upper-western parts of the small Buddha niche, the minimization of the environmental impact of the actions taken. Consolidation works were mainly implemented by professional climbers, directly operating on the cliff.