Architectural terracruda sculptures of the silk roads: new conservation insights through a diagnostic approach based on non-destructive x-ray micro-computed tomography

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; Mirello, Domenico

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2020.1862605

Architectural terracruda sculptures of the silk roads: new conservation insights through a diagnostic approach based on non-destructive x-ray micro-computed tomography

Citation

López-Prat M, Agostino RG, Bandyopadhyay SR, Carrascosa B, Crocco MC, De Luca R, Filosa R, Formoso V, Lancelotti C, Noori NA, Pecci A, Simón-Cortés J, Miriello D. Architectural terracruda sculptures of the silk roads: new conservation insights through a diagnostic approach based on non-destructive x-ray micro-computed tomography. Stud Conserv. 2022;67(4):209-21. DOI: 10.1080/00393630.2020.1862605

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.