Control of Rockfall and Mudflow at a Hillside Buddhist Temple Site in Northwest China

Abstract

This paper takes the Shengjinkou Buddhist temple in the Northwest of China as an example to discuss the preservation countermeasures against geological hazards such as rockfall and mudflow. The Shengjinkou site is a famous Buddhist Temple along the ancient Silk Road constructed in 640–791 a.d., including grottos excavated in weak conglomerate rock and some earthen buildings made by mud-bricks. Engineering geological investigation indicated that the heritage site at a hillside is seriously threatened by rockfall and mudflow due to strong geological weathering and sudden rainfall. Therefore, engineering measures have to be taken to reduce the risk of geological hazards under the least intervention principle for heritage conservation. A safety netting system (SNS) mainly consisting of wire rope net was designed at the upside of the hill to prevent the rolling stones from striking grottos and visiting guests, and a diversion ditch was designed to conduct the sticky mudflow away from the earthen buildings. The preservation practice at Shengjinkou Grottos site proves that good cooperation between Engineering geologists and conservation scientists plays an important role in heritage conservation.