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Instability and geotechnical problems of the Buddha niches and surrounding cliff in Bamiyan Valley, central Afghanistan

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Abstract

This paper describes the slope-instability processes and geological hazards affecting the historical site of Bamiyan, central Afghanistan, a major world-cultural heritage site. Here, two standing Buddhas carved in rock during the 2nd–4th centuries A.D. were destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001. There are very evident slope instabilities resulting from both explosions and natural processes: rock slides and rock falls had already occurred in the past and most areas are prone to collapse. Under the coordination of UNESCO, field data were collected and laboratory tests were performed to determine mechanisms for potential evolution of the cliff and niches. Areas of greatest instability, based on the field survey and data interpretation for both the small and great Buddha niches and surrounding cliff, were determined. This information helps to identify the most suitable method for restoration, in accord with the high cultural value of this site.

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Acknowledgments

The author expresses his gratitude to all the people who made this culturally important task possible. Logistics in Afghanistan were quite difficult; land mines were a terrible obstacle. The local UNESCO people provided excellent support: to mention Jim Williams is more than a simple acknowledgement. UNESCO Paris demonstrated once more their high professionalism in organising so difficult an assignment in such a perfect manner. Special thanks go to Christian Manhart as well as to Francois Langlois and Sarah Finke. The author expresses his gratitude to Prof. M. Pellegrini (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) for many suggestions and continued encouragement, and Prof. Vittorio Colombini (University of Potenza) for great practical support. Many colleagues give their help and support in the laboratory investigation; it is a pleasure to thank Prof. Piero Manetti (Univeristy of Florence) for mineralogical and petrographic investigations, Prof. Renato Ribacchi and Prof. Tatian Tonda (University of Rome 1) for petrogeophysical investigations, Dr. Cinzia Crovato and Dr. Giovanna Armiento (ENEA) for X-ray analyses, Dr. Marcello Gioly Guidi and Mr. Fabrizio Pierdominici (ENEA) for scanning electronic microscopy. I also wish to thank my friends Dr. Giuseppe Delmonaco (ENEA) and Eng. Daniele Spizzichino (Consorzio Civita), who shared with me most of the brain storming and interpretation of the field data and laboratory tests. Last but not least, thanks to Dr. Mauri McSaveny, who reviewed the entire text providing very useful suggestions for the final version of the paper.

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  1. ENEA CR Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00060, Rome, Italy

    Claudio Margottini

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  1. Claudio Margottini
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Correspondence to Claudio Margottini.

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Margottini, C. Instability and geotechnical problems of the Buddha niches and surrounding cliff in Bamiyan Valley, central Afghanistan. Landslides 1, 41–51 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-003-0010-0

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