Non-invasive and Micro-invasive Investigations on Wall Paintings from a XIII century Temple in Bagan Valley (Myanmar)

On August 24, 2016, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck central Myanmar, seriously damaging and partially destroying more than 300 structures in Bagan Archaeological Zone. Department of Archaeology, UNESCO Bangkok Office and Japan International Cooperation Agency collected information about the damage to the cultural heritage caused by the earthquake. In February and July 2017, a scientific survey concerning XIII centuries wall paintings of temple Me-taw-ya, located in the south of Myinkaba village in Bagan site, carried out. It was supported by Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TNRICP). As a part of a previous project, preliminary investigations were carried out to acquire information on constitutive materials and construction technology of wall paintings. The conservation state of wall paintings and the presence of non-original materials were also investigated. The goal of the present study is to obtain appropriate technical scientific information to draw up a “practical code” to be adopted in wall paintings restoration