Options for an Anastylosis of the Buddha Statues in Bamiyan, 2005

The question is whether and how the remaining fragments of the Buddhas should be reinserted into the rock niches – as an anastylosis – at their original location. Since so far only a small portion of the fragments has been measured and documented, at present only general suggestions for a solution can be made. Decisions about the number, location and the surface treatment of the fragments to be inserted can be postponed to a later planning phase. The structure of a steel solution with inserted fragments resembles a wire model, the external rods of which represent the Buddha’s contours. This solution has the advantage that the back wall of the niche is visible in between the fragments and that the remaining broken-off parts of the Buddha, which have meanwhile been attached to the wall, also remain visible. After the different studies of variations, we would like to recommend the proposal with the recessed masonrywork representing the Buddhas, with fragments inserted and protruding by the thickness of a rock. This solution allows the unambiguous distinction between original parts and reconstruction, and manufacturing the reconstructed parts from local brick and suitable lime mortar.