Synchrotron light unveils oil in ancient Buddhist paintings from Bamiyan

Scientists have proved, thanks to experiments performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), that the paintings were made of oil, hundreds of years before the technique was “invented” in Europe. Results are published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry.

Researchers restoring the caves. Credits: National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo (Japan).