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Abstract
Abstract Microscopic wood identifications were performed on five Buddhist temple structures, three vernacular houses, two stupas, and two holy trees located in Ladakh, a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in the Western Himalayas. Leh is Ladakh’s capital and is located along the Indus River, the backbone of Ladakh. The vernacular buildings, stupa, and holy trees are located in Leh. Ladakh is a high-altitude desert with extremely scarce vegetation. Natural vegetation occurs mostly along the watercourses. The temples are located in villages along the upper Indus river valley, or along confluent rivers. From the 110 wood samples, 4 wood species were identified: poplar, willow, juniper, and pine. Building type, local availability, specific physical and mechanical properties of the wood species, and religious considerations were apparently the leading criteria for timber selection.
Highlights
During a stay from 16 September to 6 October 2014 in the cold desert area of Ladakh (Western Himalayas, India), wood samples were collected from five Buddhist temple structures, three vernacular houses, two stupas, and two trees
Samples were collected from two archaeological sites in cooperation with Quentin Devers of the Centre de recherche sur les civilisations de l’Asie orientale (CRCAO)
The vernacular buildings in Leh (3505 m asl) are mainly made of poplar (Populus sp). This is the timber mostly used in the traditional buildings in Leh; in the temple buildings in Chumathang village, located in the upper Indus river valley (4050 m asl); and in Alchi village, located on the lower Indus river (3060 m asl)
Summary
During a stay from 16 September to 6 October 2014 in the cold desert area of Ladakh (Western Himalayas, India), wood samples were collected from five Buddhist temple structures, three vernacular houses, two stupas, and two trees. 2.1 Roke Bano House (Figs 3 and 4) – Early 1900s This house, restored by the THF, belongs to the Bano family, a Muslim family They moved to a larger house in a village near Choglamsar, a Tibetan settlement 7 km from Leh. The family, including five children and a 75-year-old mother, still cherish their old family house. The Leh Old Town Initiative and THF are renting the top floor of the Lakruk House for their office and residential use. 2.5 West Stupa Gate (Fig. 8) This is a small gate above a small pathway next to the Central Asian Museum These two impressive trees are landmarks of Leh Old Town. 2.6.1 Living Tree “The real aim of Guru Ji was to establish greenery in an arid climate, and this tree is there to remind us to take care of the environment.”
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