Preservation of Monuments

Preservation of the remains at Vikramshila has remained as a challenge right from the initial days when excavation had started exposing the structures buried by centuries of neglect. The exposed terracotta plaques fixed on the main temple were provided with a temporary shed of corrugated iron sheets to protect them from deterioration way back in 1965-66.The terracotta panels were desalinized during1969-70, but only to notice that salts were however, still rising up from the ground and between 1974-76, the friable plaques were in an advanced stage of decay due to heavy salt efflorescences from the body of the stupa. The hygroscopic salts which kept the surface damp throughout the year, were extracted as far as possible with the application of paper pulp, followed by consolidation with 5% polyvinyl acetate in toluene.

Between 1973 to 1979, the tops of exposed structures were water-tightened by and laying fresh concrete over the decayed terrace, while dislodged brick masonry and stone slabs were reset and finished with recessed pointing. Between 1979 to 1985, the area was fenced with barbed-wire along with arrangements for discharge of rain water from the monastic complex. Special bricks were also manufactured departmentally for use during repairs. Between 1985 to 1988, the collapsed, decayed and dislodged portions of the northern monastery were reconstructed with special size of bricks in lime, surkhi cement mortar, including underpinning, water-tightening the joints, etc., as per the original. Having visited the site regularly since 2005, I have found the remains being better preserved than earlier even as the challenge of saving the terracotta plaques growing even more friable over the years due to salt hygroscopy continues.

To be continued....