A major restoration project at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bagan in Myanmar has led to the discovery of hidden murals inside a lesser-known temple built during the reign of King Kyanzittha (r. 1084–1112). The murals, which were concealed behind layers of 18th-century whitewash and soot, depict scenes from the Jataka Tales, the stories of the Buddha's previous lives, rendered in a sophisticated early-Burmese style influenced by Pala-Indian art.
The restoration team used non-invasive infrared imaging to map the murals before employing micro-abrasion techniques to remove the obscuring layers. The revealed artwork shows highly detailed figures in vibrant mineral pigments, including green-skinned celestial beings and intricate floral motifs that have remained untouched by light for over nine hundred years.
Government officials have noted that these murals provide a rare look at the artistic transition from early Mon influences to the classical Burmese style of the Pagan Empire. The temple has been temporarily closed to the public to allow for further stabilization of the plaster and the installation of a climate-controlled lighting system to protect the sensitive pigments from fading.