The Archaeological Sites of Bamiyan Valley—Conditions and Possible Interventions from a Conservative Perspective

Abstract

The following paper contains a detailed condition assessment of the main Bamiyan Valley’s archaeological sites that have been visited from February 19th to 22nd, 2023, on behalf of UNESCO and of the Japan Archaeological Mission in Afghanistan. The survey involved all the main archaeological sites of the Bamiyan Valley: the main cliff with the giant Buddhas and many caves, the Kakrak and Folladi Valleys, Shahr-e Gholghola and Shahr-e Zohak. The purpose was to assess their current condition and to define priorities for immediate response actions, to prevent vandalic actions, the collapse of archaeological structures and further deterioration of the wall paintings. For each site, a detailed photographic documentation of the current condition was completed, and the main conservation issues have been identified. The information about each site is displayed in dedicated paragraphs, included in this document.

1 Overview and Method

The following paragraphs describe the condition assessment of the main archaeological sites of Bamiyan Valley, completed between February 19th and 22nd, 2023. The survey, planned by the UNESCO Office in Kabul and by the Japan Archaeological Mission in Afghanistan, comprehended:

• The two Giant Buddha niches and some of the adjacent caves in the Bamiyan Valley’s Great Cliff.

• The Folladi Valley Caves.

• The Kakrak Valley Caves.

• Shahr-e Gholghola.

• Shahr-e Zohak.

As is widely known, after August 2021 the maintenance and conservation programs in Bamiyan have stopped and the archaeological sites have been exposed to extreme weather conditions, to vandalic actions and, often, to a general lack of surveillance.

Aiming at the resume of conservation and maintenance activities, this survey served as a first general evaluation of the sites’ priorities, to define possible strategies that could improve the condition of the most valuable and endangered structures.

In particular, the condition of the caves’ wall paintings has already been monitored during past surveys and dedicated interventions, on behalf of UNESCO and of the Japan Archaeological Mission in Afghanistan. This last survey represents an update of the previous experiences on the Great Cliff’s caves.¹

For each site, a detailed photographic documentation was completed, and the main conservation issues have been identified. The condition of each site is described in dedicated paragraphs of this document together with proposals for immediate response actions.

The proposed strategies consider the involvement of local population, both to enhance the local economy and to allow for a continuous maintenance of the sites’ areas, their doors, gates and draining systems.

2 Archaeological Sites Condition

2.1 Archaeological Site: East Giant Buddha Niche and Caves

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. East Giant Buddha niche, its adjacent caves and the stairs and passages to them.

Access to the site. The site can be freely accessed as there are no guards and no gates. Not all the existing doors to the caves are locked.

Condition of the site and of its structures. The fragments of the giant sculpture at the bottom of the niche are still under wooden structures. However, fruit peels are visible on the structures’ roofs and around them. This means that visitors freely enter the site, leaving waste and climbing on the covering structures without any surveillance.

The niche of the Giant Buddha suffered terrible damage in 2001. Currently, the fractures that cross the niche’s vault do not show signs of recent water leaking from the cliff’s wall. The gap filling and edging of the fractures are in good condition.

The structure of the internal stairs that leads to the top of the niche is in good condition.

The hooks used to climb the niche walls, to check the sculpture’s remaining surface, are still pierced in the niche’s stone. However, they require a careful inspection.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The remnants of the giant sculpture show some areas where the finishing plasters of the sculpture are conserved. They have been consolidated in the past and their edgings are in good condition.

The absence of locked doors to the entrance of the stairs and of the caves’ forecourts is surely an issue for the conservation of the site. Traces of waste, graffiti and drawings drafted by scratching the ancient plasters are diffused on the caves’ internal and external walls. For example, the presence of blue spray paint graffities are visible all along the entrance of the stairs and on the external and internal walls of many caves.

This is a clear sign of the lack of maintenance and surveillance of the site. Given the fragile and porous nature of the cliff’s stone and of the plasters, graffiti removal may cause scratches and stains on the surfaces. Thus, it is important to avoid any further vandalic actions (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Forecourt’s wall of Cave D1. Large blue spray paint graffities have been traced on this wall as well as on many other caves and forecourts’ walls around the East Giant Buddha

Well-built doors can also prevent the entrance of small animals and birds inside the caves and thus avoid the deposit of animal droppings and guano on the decorated surfaces.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide.

• Construction of gates and fences around the base of the Buddha niche, to prevent visitors from entering without any surveillance, especially inside the caves and around the fragments of the Giant Buddha.

• Construction of new locked doors to close the entrances to the stairs, to the caves and their forecourts.

• Maintenance of the existing doors that, sometimes, are not locked or still allow small animals and birds to access the caves.

• Inspection and maintenance of the drainage system of the rainwater from the cliff.

• Plan tests for spray paint graffiti removal protocols.

2.2 Archaeological Site: Cave D1

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. Cave D1, the lowest of the caves’ D group, and its forecourt. The cave has decorated plasters while its forecourt has unpainted plasters.

Access to the cave. The cave has no door as well as its forecourt.

Condition of the site and of its structure. As the cave has no locked door, it can be freely accessed by visitors. Thus, waste and food peels are visible on the forecourt and cave’s floors.

The forecourt and cave’s walls present fractures that cross the cliff stone and the decorated plasters.

Between the forecourt and the cave’s entrance, there are some emerging circular structures. As their function is not known, they should be carefully documented and studied by archaeologists. Once carefully documented, they require consolidation and reburial.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. Marker writings, incisions and graffities are visible on the surfaces of the cave and forecourt’s plasters.

The unpainted plasters on the forecourt’s walls have no edgings thus they may have not been consolidated in the past.

The cave’s painted platers, instead, have been consolidated in the past as edgings are visible. However, small areas where the edgings are detaching from the stone walls or where the plasters lack any edging, possibly due to recent detachment, are visible.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of new locked doors to close the entrances to the cave and to its forecourt.

• Plan and complete tests of spray paint graffiti removal protocols.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

2.3 Archaeological Site: Cave D

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. Cave D, the highest of the caves’ D group, and its forecourt. Both decorated with painted plasters.

Access to the cave: The cave has no door as well as its forecourt.

Condition of the site and of its structure. The forecourt and cave’s walls present fractures that cross the cliff stone and the decorated plasters (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

Detail of Cave D frame, at the base of the dome. Fractures cross the stone walls and the painted plasters, causing their detachment and loss

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. As the cave has no locked door, it can be freely accessed by visitors. Thus, blue spray paint graffities are visible on the walls of the forecourt.

The painted plasters on the forecourt’s walls have been treated and consolidated in the past: their surface appears in good condition as well as their edging repairs.

The cave’s painted platers have also been consolidated in the past as edgings are present. However, there are diffused areas where wall painting detachments are visible, revealing the cave’s stone surface that has a lighter color, as it is not covered by dust deposits. The silhouette of the detached plasters is highlighted by their edging mortars, still adhering to the stone surface.

Leaking of guano is visible on the frame at the base of the dome, staining the wall plasters and stucco decorations.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of a new locked door to close the entrances to the cave and to its forecourt.

• Plan and complete tests of spray paint graffiti removal protocols.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

2.4 Archaeological Site: Cave Ca

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed cave. Ca (165) and its forecourt, both decorated with painted plasters.

Access to the cave. The cave has a locked door while the forecourt can be freely accessed.

Condition of the site and of its structure. The door of the cave is in good condition and locked. It does not allow small animals and birds to enter the cave.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. As the forecourt has no locked door, it can be freely accessed by visitors. Thus, blue spray paint graffities, marker writings and incisions are visible and diffused on the walls and plasters of the forecourt.

The painted plasters have been treated and consolidated in the past: except for the graffiti, their surface appears in good condition as well as their edging repairs.

Leaking of guano is visible on the frame at the base of the dome, staining the wall plasters and stucco decorations.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of a new locked door to close the entrance to the forecourt.

• Plan and complete tests of spray paint graffiti removal.

• Completion of new edgings where recent detachments of the cave’s plasters are visible.

2.5 Archaeological Site: Cave Cb

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. Cave Cb (164) and its forecourt. Decorated plasters are present only on the cave’s walls and ceiling.

Access to the cave. The forecourt has no door while the cave has a locked one.

Condition of the structure. Fractures are visible on the cave’s walls. A sign in the cave informs about the presence of an environmental monitoring system.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The wall paintings of the cave have been consolidated in the past, by the Archaeological Survey of India, between 1969 and 1978. They appear in acceptable condition, but they should receive maintenance and treatment as many years have passed since the last interventions.

The cave’s door does not have a perfectly sealed frame thus small animals and birds can still enter the cave. Guano leaking is visible on the cave’s frame.

Small white writings are visible on the decorated plaster of the cave, and they have been probably done with chalk.

On the floor of the cave, remnants of the ancient stucco floor have been identified. They should be consolidated and carefully documented as it is very rare to find large fragments of these floor finishing.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of a new locked door to close the entrance to the forecourt. Maintenance of the existing cave door, that has a not perfect frame sealing.

• Plan and complete tests of chalk writing removal protocols.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

• The environmental monitoring system should be resumed, and its data analyzed.

2.6 Archaeological Site: Group B Caves

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. Group B (138–139) caves and forecourts. They all have decorated plasters.

Access to the caves. Only cave Ba has a locked door.

Condition of the structure and of the site. Fractures are visible on walls and ceilings of the forecourt and of the caves.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The forecourt of the caves and cave n. 139 can be freely accessed, thus spray paint graffities, marker writings, scratches and other vandalic actions are visible and diffused on the forecourts’ walls and plasters.

The plasters have edgings. However, they should be carefully inspected to verify the presence of recent detachment.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the cave and balcony without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of a new locked door to close the entrance to the forecourts and to cave 139. Maintenance of the existing cave door, that has a not perfect frame sealing.

• Plan and complete tests of graffities removal protocols.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

2.7 Archaeological Site: Caves Group A Upper

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. Caves group A Upper (Aa 129, 130), caves and forecourts.

Access to the caves. Cave Aa (129) has a locked door.

Condition of the structure and of the site. Fractures are visible on walls and ceilings of the forecourts and of the caves.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. Even though Cave Aa (129) has a locked door, it is sadly known for the vandalic action it has been subjected to: the surface of the decorated plaster, darkened by the dust deposit, is covered with soles prints.

Cave 130 has not a door. The surface of its plasters, even though covered by a layer of whitewash, present a huge number of spray paint graffiti, marker and chalk writings and scratches.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the cave and balcony without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of new locked doors to close the entrance to the forecourts and to cave 130. Maintenance of the existing door, that has a not perfect frame sealing.

• Plan and complete tests of graffiti removal protocols.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

2.8 Archaeological Site: West Giant Buddha Niche

Date of the survey. February the 20th–21st, 2023.

Surveyed area. West Giant Buddha niche.

Access to the site. The site can be freely accessed as there are no guards and no functioning fences and gates. Not all the existing doors to the caves are locked.

Condition of the site and of its structure. The fragments of the giant sculpture at the bottom of the niche are still under the wooden shelters that host them. However, it is visible how the structures and materials stocked beneath them have been voluntarily damaged and looted. Moreover, the shelters were already unsuitable for the safe storage of the fragments, as they are not isolated from the environment, and they cannot prevent future deterioration of the archaeological materials.

Many of the caves and the forecourts have no locked doors. Well-built doors can avoid further vandalic actions as well as the entrance of small animals and birds inside the caves and the deposit of animal droppings and guano on the decorated surfaces.

The niche of the Giant Buddha suffered terrible damage in 2001. Currently, the fractures that cross the niche’s vault do not show signs of recent water leaking from the cliff’s wall. However, a careful monitoring of its fractures is recommended as well as the inspection of the scaffoldings and security nets that have been installed as temporary supporting structures for the remnants of the giant sculpture.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of gates and fences around the base of the Buddha, to prevent visitors from entering without any surveillance, especially inside the caves and around the fragments of the Giant Buddha.

• Construction of new locked doors to close the entrances to the stairs, to the caves and their forecourts.

• Maintenance of the existing doors that, sometimes, are not locked or still allow small animals and birds to access the caves.

• Inspection and maintenance of the drainage system of the rainwater from the cliff.

• Plan and construction of more suitable shelters for the Giant Buddha fragments.

2.9 Archaeological Site: Cave at the Base of the West Giant Buddha Niche

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. Cave at the base of the West Buddha, Nort East corner. It hosts fragments of the giant Buddha and has decorated plasters on the walls and ceiling.

Access to the cave. The cave has no door and can be freely accessed.

Condition of the structure and of the site. The cave has been vandalized. The fragments of the Buddha sculptures have been damaged, removed from their wooden supports and possibly looted (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3

Cave at the base of the West Buddha, Nort East corner. It hosts fragments of the giant Buddha and has decorated plasters on the walls and ceiling. The cave has been vandalized: the giant sculpture’s fragments have been removed from their wooden supports and damaged

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The wall plasters have been consolidated in the past as edgings are visible. However, given the absence of a door and the vandalic actions perpetrated inside the cave, their conditions should be carefully inspected.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Construction of a new locked door to close the entrance to the cave.

• Plan and complete the construction of more suitable shelters for the Giant Buddha fragments, to store them in upgraded conditions.

• Careful inspection of the wall plaster's condition.

2.9.1 Archaeological Site: Cave 53-V

Date of the survey. February the 20th, 2023.

Surveyed area. Cave 53-V (621) under the West Buddha niche.

Access to the cave. The cave has a locked door.

Condition of the structure and of the site. The door requires maintenance as small animals and birds can still enter the internal space.

Fractures are visible across the cave’s walls.

The cave has been vandalized. The archaeological fragments stored inside the cave, piled on improper supports, have been damaged, removed from their supports and possibly looted.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The wall plasters have been consolidated in the past as edgings are visible. However, given the vandalic actions perpetrated inside the cave, their conditions should be carefully verified.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Maintenance of the door to prevent animals and birds from entering the cave.

• Plan and construction of more suitable shelters for the archaeological fragments, to store them in upgraded conditions.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

• Careful inspection of the wall plaster’s condition.

2.9.2 Archaeological Site: Cave I

Date of the survey. February the 21st, 2023.

Cave. Cave I and its forecourt. They both have decorated painted surfaces.

Access to the cave. To access the forecourt it is necessary to transport and install a ladder. The cave’s access has a locked door.

Condition of the structure and of the site. The water drainage system is still functioning. However, it requires maintenance and cleaning.

The forecourt has some carved, concave spaces where nets have been positioned to avoid birds’ nests and guano deposits. Some of these nets are fallen on the floor and recent guano leaks are visible on the balcony’s walls.

Fractures are visible on the forecourt walls.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The wall plasters of the forecourt have been consolidated in the past as edging is visible and they are in good condition.

However, some water can still leak on the balcony’s ceiling surface, and it creates soil encrustation and erosion.

Moreover, as the forecourt is exposed to the environment, the surface of the wall paintings is eroded and abraded.

The cave’s wall paintings have been already consolidated too as edgings are visible and they are in good condition. However, numerous marker writings and scratches are visible on the decorated surfaces.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Maintenance of the door and of the nets, to prevent animals and birds from entering the cave.

• Maintenance of the existing drainage system.

• The base of the removable ladder to access the balcony should be repaired as it is unstable.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

• To access and monitor the wall paintings, a system of pegs and supports should be installed in the cave and its balcony so that, whenever it is necessary, a scaffolding can be quickly built.

2.9.3 Archaeological Site: Caves N

Date of the survey. February the 21st, 2023.

Surveyed area. Caves N and their forecourts. They both have decorated painted surfaces.

Access to the cave. To access the forecourts it is necessary to transport and install a ladder. The cave’s access has a locked door.

Condition of the structure and of the site. The water drainage system is still functioning, although it requires cleaning and maintenance.

The main forecourt does not have a locked door while the caves of this group all have functioning doors.

Waste and abundant guano deposits are visible on the forecourt floor and walls, and this means that visitors and animals freely enter this area.

Fractures are visible on the ceiling of the balcony.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. On the forecourts walls and ceiling small areas where plasters are still conserved are visible. However, these plasters do not have edgings and they immediately require consolidation treatments.

The caves are decorated with remarkably important paintings. It was preferred to avoid opening the locked doors to inspect them, both to prevent any change in the internal environment of the cave and to avoid the entrance of too many people.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Set up of nets, to prevent animals and birds from entering the balcony.

• Maintenance of the existing drainage system.

• The base of the removable ladder to access the forecourt should be repaired as it is unstable.

• Set up of crack meters, to monitor the condition of the fractures of walls and plasters.

• Treatment of the plasters that are still present on the balcony walls.

2.9.4 Archaeological Site: Folladi Valley

Date of the survey. February the 21st, 2023.

Surveyed area. Folladi Valley and its caves.

Access to the caves. The caves have no doors as well as the site, can be freely accessed by visitors and animals.

Condition of the structure and of the site. The site is completely abandoned: there is no surveillance even if it is located near to a small village. Animals and local inhabitants use the caves as shelters so that graffiti and writings are visible on the walls and thick deposits of animal droppings cover the cave floors (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4

One of the lower caves in Folladi Valley, used as dung storage

Fractures are visible on caves walls and ceilings.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The paintings are completely exposed to the environment, to erosion due to anthropic activities and to vandalic actions.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, possibly involving the local community, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Set up of locked doors or nets to avoid the entrance of animals and visitors to the caves.

• Removal of animal dropping deposits from the caves.

• Edging repairs of the decorated plasters.

• Detailed documentation of the caves and of their surviving decorations as they are exposed to extreme environmental conditions (detailed photographic documentation, lasers scan, drone images, 3D models…).

2.9.5 Archaeological Site: Kakrak Valley

Date of the survey. February the 22nd, 2023.

Surveyed area. Kakrak Valley and its caves.

Access to the caves. The caves have no doors as well as the site, that can be freely accessed by visitors and animals.

Condition of the structure and of the site. The site is completely abandoned: there is no surveillance even if it is surrounded by cultivated fields. Local inhabitants use the caves as shelters.

Fractures are visible on cave walls and ceilings.

Some structures, such as a tower, are still standing even though they require immediate structural consolidation.

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The plasters are completely exposed to the environment and to erosion due to anthropic activities.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Identify the structures more informative rich or important from an archaeological and artistical point of view. Set up of locked doors or fences to prevent the entrance of animals and visitors to these identified areas.

• Removal of animal dropping deposits from the caves.

• Edging repairs of the plasters.

• Detailed documentation of the caves and of their surviving decorations as they are exposed to extreme environmental conditions (detailed photographic documentation, laser scans, drone images, 3D models…).

2.9.6 Archaeological Site: Shahr-e Gholghola

Date of the survey. February the 19th, 2023.

Surveyed area. SW and SE slopes of the hill, with a particular focus on the areas 2, 3, 22, 19, 15 and on the Citadel.²

The site has been documented entering from its SW side, the current entrance, where pictures have been taken of the high and complex structures still standing along the current entrance. Then, the survey proceeded backward and then upward, following the current path up to the so called “Citadel”, the highest cluster of structures still standing on the top of the hill.

Once documented this part, the survey proceeded down along the E wall of the Citadel and down again, along the N side of the cliff, where many structures are still standing along the huge empty space left by the erosion of the N side of the cliff.

Then, another area that has been carefully documented is the path that runs South and West ward, towards the ICOMOS restored area, where are located many high structures, an arch with colored plasters and a series of low caves, with traces of overlapped painted layers and plasters.

Access to the site. The site can be freely accessed as there are no guards and no gates.

Condition of the site and of its structures. The survey did not reveal dramatic changes in the structures’ condition nor major collapses happened since the last extensive survey of the site, completed in October 2019.

However, the structures show evident signs of erosions due to the extreme environmental conditions they are exposed to, and many buildings are collapsing.

The site lacks a regular maintenance and an extensive and functional drainage system. Thus, rain and melting snow erode the lower portion of the buildings, weakening their structures and increasing the potential of their collapse (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5

Shahr-e Gholghola, SW slope of the hill. Some high structures are still standing, partially covered by plasters. There is a high risk of collapse due to erosion caused by environmental factors and to the steepness of the hill

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The plasters of the structures represent an important source of archaeological information about the site's history as they allow to spot overlapping structures and traces of no longer existing ceilings.

Again, the survey did not reveal extensive loss of plasters. However, they have never been consolidated so far nor have edgings to protect them from water leaking and detachment. Thus, an extensive intervention of edging and consolidation is necessary, given the erosion’s speed of the site.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Set up of fences or nets and gates around the hill, to avoid uncontrolled entrances to the site.

• Plan and construction of the site’s drainage system.

2.9.7 Archaeological Site: Shahr-e Zohak

Date of the survey. February the 22nd, 2023.

Surveyed area. During the survey, it was possible to visit only the lower citadel, on the East and West escarpments. The steep paths to the higher citadel were not safe because of the ice on the ground.

Access to the site. The site can be freely accessed as there are no guards and no gates.

Condition of the site and of its structures. The structures show evident signs of erosions due to the extreme environmental conditions they are exposed to, and many buildings are collapsing. The site lacks a regular maintenance and an extensive and functional drainage system. Thus, rain and melting snow erode the lower portion of the buildings, weakening their structures and increasing the potential of their collapse (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6

Shahr-e Zohak lower citadel and, on the background, part of the structures of the higher citadel

Condition of the wall plasters and paintings. The plasters of the structures represent an important source of archaeological information about the site's history as they allow to spot overlapping structures and traces of no longer existing ceilings.

The plasters and the architectural surfaces have never been consolidated so far nor have edgings to protect them from water leaking and detachment. Thus, an extensive intervention of edging and consolidation is necessary, given the erosion’s speed of the site.

Recommendations for immediate response actions:

• Regular surveillance of the site, as visitors should not be allowed to enter the site without a guide accompanying them.

• Detailed documentation of the site and of the archaeological structures as they are exposed to extreme environmental conditions and the risk of their collapse is high (detailed photographic documentation, laser scan, drone images, 3D models…).

• Completion of fences and gates around the hill, to avoid uncontrolled entrances to the site.

• Planning and completion of the site’s drainage system.

3 Condition of the Sites and Main Conservation Issues

The survey allowed to identify common issues and threats to the conservation of the surveyed Bamiyan sites, of the surviving structures, plasters, wall paintings and decorative elements:

• Lack of surveillance. Many sites can be freely accessed such as Shahr-e Zohak and the caves of the minor valleys, Kakrak and Folladi. Even though the Great Cliff and Shahr-e Gholghola have guards at their entrances, they do not stop visitors from freely entering the sites, from climbing the archaeological structures and, sometimes, perpetuating vandalic actions (graffiti).

• Vandalic actions. The storages and caves of the West Buddha, that contain fragments of the giant sculpture, have been vandalized and looted. Unfortunately, also the East Giant Buddha caves have been heavily targeted with vandalic actions (graffiti, scratches and small damages), especially the caves’ forecourts, more visible and accessible.

• Absence of locked doors. The entrance doors to the East Giant Buddha caves are open, as well as to the Folladi caves, that are currently used as storages and animals shelters (manure covers the cave's floor). Securing the access to the caves with locked doors represents an efficient solution to avoid intentional damages or incidents which could in any way endanger the sites. The caves that, in the past, have been secured with locked doors have not been damaged recently.

• Lack of maintenance. The sites are often dirty with paper remains, fruit peels, bottles, food remains, cigarette wraps and butts.

• Erosion, due to the extreme environmental conditions, is especially visible in Shahr-Gholghola and Shahr-e Zohak. However, damages due to erosion are dramatically visible on all the archaeological sites visited during the survey, where there is a general deterioration of the condition of both the decorative and structural elements.

4 Proposals for a Maintenance Plan and for Immediate Response Actions

The condition of the sites, as resulted during the survey, suggests two necessary strategies to prevent further damage to the archaeological heritage of the area.

First of all, there are immediate response actions, that consist of targeted interventions aiming at the increase of security and surveillance of the sites, as well as to mitigate the deterioration caused by anthropic actions and by the extreme weather conditions of the region:

• To secure all existing doors of caves and sites as well as to build and set up doors for the caves that are not closed yet.

• To prevent indiscriminate and uncontrolled access, delimiting the most important archaeological areas with gates and nets.

• To train and hire local staff to provide effective surveillance.

• To resume ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of the entire water drainage system of the Great Cliff and to implement the water drainage systems to the sites that currently lack any of these systems (Shahr-e Gholghola, Shar-e Zohak, Kakrak and Folladi valleys).

• To plan graffiti removal operations, to avoid permanent spots and damages to the wall paintings.

• To plan and complete targeted consolidation intervention of wall paintings and plasters (edging, grouting and eventually temporary facing) and structural consolidation or temporary support for collapsing archaeological architectures.

• To plan the complete documentation of collapsing and endangered archaeological structures in the Kakrak and Folladi Valleys as well as in Shahr-e Gholghola and Shahr-e Zohak. This is to prevent the loss of any information, in case any damage occurs to the sites.

These operations can be planned in accordance with the priorities identified during the survey.

On the other hand, it is necessary to define a plan for the general maintenance of the sites:

• Skilled workers can be hired to provide for the maintenance of the doors and general cleaning of the sites.

• Local guides should be trained and hired to accompany visitors.

• The involvement of local community in the correct management of the sites and of the buffer zones should be encouraged. This can provide both improved maintenance of the sites as well as an economic source of income for the local population.

• Monitoring of the urban and rural expansion and the buffer zones to the sites.

Maintenance operations also comprehend the resume of monitoring programs. Some of the caves already have environment monitoring systems that should be checked and resumed. Cracks and fractures visible on the Cliff and on the caves’ walls should be monitored too.

Finally, it would be beneficial to resume, also, the conservation, research and archaeology programs. This, aims at a deeper knowledge of the sites and at better conservation conditions of Bamiyan archaeological heritage, enhancing its possibility to be preserved throughout this unpredictable situation.