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  • © 2020

The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues

Heritage Reconstruction in Theory and Practice

  • The publication will contribute significantly to the available literature on post-conflict conservation ethics and provide an important historical record of the possible reconstruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues for future scholars

  • A refined conservation theory will help create a better understanding of past approaches and strengthen current practice

  • Useful reference point for conservation practitioners and policy makers around the world as they consider how to respond to on-going acts of destruction of cultural monuments

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Hardcover Book USD 59.99
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Table of contents (19 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxv
  2. An Overall Review of the Emergency Interventions at the Bamiyan World Heritage Property Implemented from 2003 to 2017

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 17-17
  3. Deliberate Destruction of Heritage and Its Recovery

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 97-97
    2. Palmyra: From War and Destruction to Rehabilitation

      • Maamoun Abdulkarim
      Pages 113-121Open Access
  4. Heritage Reconstruction in Theory

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 155-155
  5. Future Treatment of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 203-203
    2. Reflections on the Case of Bamiyan

      • Jukka Ilmari Jokilehto
      Pages 205-214Open Access

About this book

This Open Access book explores heritage conservation ethics of post conflict and provides an important historical record of the possible reconstruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues, which was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in Danger in 2003 as “Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley”. With the condition that most surface of the original fragments of the Buddha statues were lost due to acts of deliberate destruction, this publication explores a reference point for conservation practitioners and policy makers around the world as they consider how to respond to on-going acts of destruction of cultural heritage.

Whilst there has been an emerging debate to the ethics and nature of heritage reconstruction, this volume provides a plethora of ideas and approaches concerning the future treatment of the Bamiyan Buddha statues. It also addresses a number of fundamental questions on potential heritage reconstruction: how it will be done; who will decide; and what it should be done for. Moreover when it comes to the inscribed World Heritage properties, how can reconstructed heritage using non-original materials be considered to retain authenticity?

With a view to serving as a precedent for potential decisions taken elsewhere in the world for cultural properties impacted by acts of violence and destruction, this volume introduces academic researches, experiences and observations of heritage conservation theory and practice of heritage reconstruction. It also addresses the issue not merely from the point of a material conservation philosophy but within the context of holistic strategies for the protection of human rights and promotion of peace building.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Culture Unit, UNESCO, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Masanori Nagaoka

About the editor

Dr. Masanori Nagaoka currently works at the UNESCO Phnom Penh Office as Culture Specialist. He has been working in the Culture sector of UNESCO for 17 years at both headquarters (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) and field offices (Jakarta cluster office and Kabul office). Having implemented a number of projects and activities including in Afghanistan, Timor Leste, the Philippines, Indonesia and so forth, he has managed projects and programmes in all fields of UNESCO Culture sector, which includes safeguarding of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, promotion of cultural diversity and tourism, culture policies for sustainable development, museums management and promotion of UNESCO normative instruments. He holds a PhD in Heritage Studies from Tsukuba University in Japan and received a Master Degree in Archaeology and Art History from Columbia University in New York, USA. He published a number of scientific peer-reviewed papers by Routledge, Springer, Emerald, ICOMOS and so forth. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues

  • Book Subtitle: Heritage Reconstruction in Theory and Practice

  • Editors: Masanori Nagaoka

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51316-0

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: History, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: UNESCO 2020

  • License: CC BY-SA IGO

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-51315-3Published: 08 December 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-51318-4Published: 30 December 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-51316-0Published: 07 December 2020

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXV, 364

  • Number of Illustrations: 51 b/w illustrations, 91 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Archaeology, Cultural Heritage

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access