Integrated scientific investigations on constitutive materials from temple n.1205a Bagan Valley (Myanmar)

On August 24, 2016, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck central Myanmar. Bagan Archaeological Zone suffered extensive damage and more than 300 structures were partially destroyed. After the earthquake, information about the damage to cultural heritage was collected from the Department of Archaeology, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the UNESCO Bangkok Office. In addition, a post-earthquake damage assessment survey from Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TNRICP) was dispatched to Bagan from September 2016 in order to collect information on the structural damage to cultural heritage buildings. As a part of the same project, a diagnostic research was carried on temple n. 1205a located in the archaeological area. The aim of the work was to acquire information on the constitutive materials and construction technology, i.e. compositions of bricks, mortars and stuccoes. A further goal of the present study was to obtain sufficient technical-scientific knowledge to draw up a “practical code” to be adopted in Bagan valley restructuring plain.