Analytical Methods for the Conservation of the Buddhist Temple II of Krasnaya Rechka, Kyrgyzstan

The paper provides a description of the method employed for the selection of the repair material for the Buddhist temple II of Krasnaya Rechka, a site located in the upper Chuy Valley, Kyrgyzstan. The temple is built with mud brick and it was excavated during several campaigns between 1938 and 1998 with no provision of conservation. The first emergency protective measure was initiated in 2003 with a UNESCO project that included other sites located in the Chuy valley. Most of the eroded walls of the temple were temporarily shelter coated with mud bricks, proving efficacy of the method. The main problem after shelter coating was how to assess the repair material for future conservation work (it is planned to repeat the application of the shelter coat, but with materials with improved performance). The article explains that assessment was carried out after extensive laboratory analysis of both historic and repair material, but also with test walls construction and monitoring. The methods explained here could be of use for those conservators working in similar projects in the Midde East or Asia.