WORK by archaeologists to save historic monuments damaged in the devastating earthquake which hit Nepal in 2015 is the focus of a new exhibition.

As well as causing huge loss of life, the earthquake was a cultural catastrophe, with widespread damage to monuments in the Kathmandu Valley.

A team of Durham University archaeologists helped with the restoration, excavating sites to determine why some monuments collapsed while others survived.

Resilience Within the Rubble opens at the Oriental Museum in Durham on Friday, featuring archive photographs and interviews with those trying to preserve the symbolic Kasthamandap monument, along with photographs of recent discoveries.

Professor Robin Coningham, of Durham University, said: “Although large sums of money were pledged to help rebuild these monuments, little was being channelled towards understanding why some collapsed while others didn’t, how they were constructed and adapted over time, or whether their foundations showed evidence of damage.

“These are critical things to consider when reconstructing in an earthquake zone”.

The exhibition runs until January 28 and further details are available from dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum.