Facing increased pressure from tourists with flashlights tramping through the Dunhuang caves in search of frescoes and murals, officials in Mogao have begun a project to digitally scan 54,000 square yards of fresco and 10 statues. The digital images will be used to form a multimedia display so that visitors can see the full detail of the images without lingering for too long in the sensitive environment of the caves themselves. Excess light, dampness, carbon dioxide, and even insects can damage the paintings.
The location of Dunhuang along the trade route between Central Asia and China made it a kind of way station for religious travelers. Between the 4th and 14th centuries C.E., monks at the site collected manuscripts and allowed pilgrims to paint large murals and frescoes on the walls of the complex. By the 12th century, most of the complex was sealed, though portions of it were still used for the storage of old or damaged manuscripts. Occasionally documents from Dunhuang would emerge, and stories of treasure troves in the caves abounded. But for the most part, the extent of the treasures buried in the Mogao caves would remain a secret for another five centuries.
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