Geo-Archaeological Assessment of Foundation Fills, Kasthamandap, Nepal

Abstract

First paragraph: On 25th April 2015 at 11.56 the Gorkha earthquake, magnitude 7.8, struck Nepal resulting in widespread devastation, loss of life and disruption of livelihoods in the Kathmandu Valley (Coningham et al., 2015). This human and cultural disaster had far-reaching social consequences and destroyed or substantially damaged the seven sites of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS). This aspect of the disaster is universally significant as these sites are 'exceptional testimony to the traditional civilisations of the Kathmandu Valley’ and contribute significantly to the understanding of South Asian cultural heritage more broadly (UNESCO, 2017). The loss and damage of these sites also has great local significance, as worship in these living monuments is an important part of local daily religious practices in Nepali cultural and fundamental to the lives of thousands.