BAMIYAN - BUDDHIST CAVE TEMPLES IN AFGHANISTAN

The Kyoto University Archaeological Mission carried out research on th e Bamiyan caves in Afghanistan between 1970 and 1978. We aimed at maki ng a general photogrammatic map of the whole area, attributing numbers to all the caves and documenting their murals. The principal cliff ex tends over 1,300 m linear distance and its maximum height is 150 m. Mo re than 750 Buddhist caves were hollowed out along this cliff. The cav es consist of several types of construction: two niches of standing Gr and Buddhas, five niches of Seated Buddhas, domed-ceiling caves, vault ed-ceiling caves, laternendecke-ceiling caves and flat ceiling caves. About fifty caves have murals remaining inside; various types of figur es are depicted in these: buddhas, decorated buddhas, boddhisatva figu res (particularly Avalokitesvara) and circular mandala motifs are popu lar Some designs were influenced by Sassanian art.