Researchers believe that ancient buildings in India's northern Uttarkashi district have been built to resist devastating earthquakes.
Studies showed that the Koti Banal architecture - named after a village in the district - relied on stone-filled solid platforms and careful use of wood, The Telegraph reported.
The ancient four-storey and five-story buildings have survived the 1720 Kumaon earthquake and the 1803 Garhwal earthquake, both of which had destroyed buildings in the region.
“This earthquake-safe architecture may have evolved after an earthquake that occurred around BC 1100, which was particularly devastating,” said A. Srivastava, a scientist at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany, Lucknow.
Dating back to about 880 years ago, the buildings have a solid platform at the base, wooden beams, and walls and floors covered with wood panels.
Engineers believe the wood-based structures are more flexible than other material, giving it the ability to absorb and dissipate energy and therefore reduce the risk of collapse.
“Surviving specimens of Koti Banal architecture need to be protected as heritage buildings,” said heritage
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