Architectural Terracruda Sculptures of the Silk Roads: New Conservation Insights Through a Diagnostic Approach Based on Non-Destructive X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography. (19th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: López-Prat, Mònica; Agostino, Raffaele Giuseppe; Bandyopadhyay, Sudipa Ray; Carrascosa, Begoña; Crocco, Maria Caterina; De Luca, Raffaella; Filosa, Raffaele; Formoso, Vincenzo; Lancelotti, Carla; Noori, Noor Agha; Pecci, Alessandra; Simón-Cortés, José; Miriello, Domenico
• Is Part Of: Studies in conservation. Volume 67:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 209
• Page End: 221
• Publication Date: 2022-05-19
• Subjects: Conservation -- terracruda sculptures -- X-ray micro-computed tomography -- sculpting technique -- ethnographic data -- clay; Art objects -- Conservation and restoration -- Periodicals; 700.288
• DOI: 10.1080/00393630.2020.1862605
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0039-3630

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This work presents the results of the study of a fragment of architectural terracruda sculpture from the Buddhist archaeological site of Tepe Narenj (Kabul, Afghanistan, fifth-ninth centuries CE) through X-ray micro-computed tomographic analysis. This technique offers great potential for the study of artworks that, due to their nature, condition, or relevance, are not suitable for sampling. The results have provided useful data for understanding the making of the sculpture showing for the first time the relevance of materials of plant origin used in the composition of the clay-based body, a feature that had not been previously highlighted and which appears to be crucial for proposing suitable conservation interventions.