Preliminary Report of the work of the International Pluridisciplinary Archaeological Expedition to Bactria (2009)

All the built structures detected during the season of excavations have been covered in order to ensure the preservation of the ruins, in the anticipation that restoration may take place in the near future.Because of the lack of large quantities of straw, we have followed the simplest possible protocol.Although straw is the best element for preserving adobe and mud structures, we have had to use locally produced cotton cloth, covered by the same sand that has preserved the ruins for centuries. CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION WORK ON THE SITECurrently, our project plan addresses a new line of activity: preserving the remains excavated in previous seasons.In this respect, we have cleaned and redefined the wall of the fortifications at Tchingiz Tepe between towers 4, 5 and 6.The aim is to prepare a surface correctly so that reconstruction of the fortification can be undertaken.The wall was built of adobe with a single, solid facing.The work entailed the individual cleaning of each and every adobe brick that provided a reference surface or base.The reconstruction seeks to meet two objectives: first, protecting the original conserved parts and, second, giving a greater size to the structure so that a visitor can form a better idea of the original appearance of the wall.The reconstruction efforts make use of original methods and the building materials have been prepared in conditions identical to the conditions at the time when the original materials were prepared.Reconstruction has begun in this space because it represents the best-understood space archaeologically as a result of the fieldwork and the analyses previously conducted by the Uzbek-Spanish mission.Our efforts have followed the established programme, and the activity planned for the first year of the multi-year programme has been completed, with the involvement of numerous local labourers.We have also relied on the services of a local business to prepare the building materials according to the traditional methods needed for the reconstruction work.

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