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This study investigates the composition and characteristics of the lime mortar used in the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda.

June 7, 2026

Composition, Structure, and Characteristics of Lime Mortar in Pagodas of Bagan, Mandalay Region, Myanmar: A Case Study of Thatbyinnyu Pagoda

Key Points

This study investigates the composition and characteristics of the lime mortar used in the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda.
Multiple analytical techniques, including XRD, TG-DTA, SEM-EDS, and FTIR, were employed.
Organic chemical titration and Py-GC-MS were used for identifying organic components.
Analysis conducted as part of a restoration project from 2017 to 2023.
The lime mortar was found to contain lime, sand, lithic fragments, and clay.
Organic identification methods revealed the presence of starch and protein components, along with resinous compounds.
The findings suggest the mortar has been modified with organic additives, a common practice in Asia.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bagan, often known as the “City of a Thousand Temples,” became the capital of the ancient Pagan Kingdom in 849 ad . The region is home to a vast number of Buddhist monuments of great historical and cultural significance, among which the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda is one of the most representative. This study, based on the restoration project of the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda undertaken by the Chinese government from 2017 to 2023, employs multiple scientific analytical techniques—including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis (TG‐DTA), scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS), particle size analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, organic chemical titration, and pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py‐GC–MS)—to systematically investigate the microstructure and material characteristics of the lime mortar used in the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda. The analysis reveals that the mortar is composed of lime, sand, lithic fragments, and clay. Multiple organic identification methods collectively confirm the presence of starch and protein components in the mortar, while Py/GC–MS further identified resinous and fatty organic compounds, suggesting that the mortar can be classified as a lime‐based mortar with organic additives. The practice of modifying lime‐based materials through the addition of organic substances is relatively common across Asia, with numerous archaeological examples reported in regions such as China and India. This phenomenon is likely linked to the distinctive geographical conditions of the region and the widespread availability of agricultural and forestry resources. It is hypothesized that such composite mortar technology may have been introduced to the area through the transmission of Buddhist culture, population movements, and commercial trade, and was subsequently adapted and localized over time.

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