Valley
Experts to wrap up post-quake excavation
A team of national and international archaeologists, researchers and experts expect to complete all excavation works of the earthquake-damaged historical sites in the Kathmandu Valley early next week.A team of national and international archaeologists, researchers and experts expect to complete all excavation works of the earthquake-damaged historical sites in the Kathmandu Valley early next week.
The experts from the Department of Archaeology (DoA) and University of Durham in the United Kingdom with support from the Unesco started a series of post-excavation surveys and rescue excavations at earthquake-damaged Unesco World Heritage Sites, including Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares, in the Valley last month. According to Bhesh Narayan Dahal, DoA director general, the excavation works have been ongoing in Bhaktapur Durbar Square since last Saturday and is likely complete early next week.
“The excavation work, including surveys and research, is expected to come up with detailed layout of archaeological features such as walls and buildings and foundations used by the existing cultural and historical sites underneath the surface. The study will guide the archaeologists to restore and rehabilitate damaged monuments in a safe way,” he said.
According to Dahal, during the post-excavation works so far, the experts found that a majority of cultural and historical sites in the Valley were built with strong foundation that resisted earthquakes time and again. “Though some monuments collapsed, the underground surfaces including the foundation were resilient to the earthquake-related events,” he said.
The excavation team has been exploring foundations of key damaged monuments and digging trenches across the three Durbar Squares to evaluate the subsurface structures and work out in the developmental phases of these important monuments.
“We will be able to come up with a final report next week, after completing the works in Bhaktapur,” Dahal said.