A team of experts from the Department of Archaeology and Durham University has begun a series of post-disaster survey and excavation works in Unesco World Heritage Sites inside the Kathmandu valley.

The April 25 earthquake of magnitude 7.8 caused massive devastation and damage to vital cultural and archaeological sites in the Valley.

As the damaged cultural and historical sites are in the process of restoration and rebuilding, the team is planning to conduct rescue surveys and excavations of three major durbar squares—Patan, Bhaktapur and Hanuman Dhoka, said a press statement issued by Unesco in Kathmandu.

The team is also expected to prepare archaeological risk maps of the heritage sites using a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) that will provide a detailed layout of archaeological features such as walls and buildings below the surface. It will

further help protect the underground heritages, the statement said.

“Creation of risk maps to identify and characterise subsurface archaeology will facilitate the future protection, preservation and presentation of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site,” said Christian Manhart, Unesco representative to Nepal.

The team will also explore the foundations of key damaged monuments and excavate trenches across of the three durbar squares.