Restoring Gur-i Amir

You think those Silk Road treasures just stay all bling-y by themselves? Ask the Soviet archeologists, who took buildings in a state of ruin and "restored" the complexes to their imagined glory. Now, Uzbekistan is busy keeping up the condition of perfection.

Time for a little face lift at Gur-i Amir. Scaffolding goes up, old tiles come down.

Signs of distress. Time for a patch. Molds are good for making panels of carvings or multiple tiles.

No need to worry about the inside, the bling is already the thing!

Poured panels, lined up for drying. Piles of tiles. Some tiles may be reused; some tiles are new.

Scaffolding off, facelift finished, the place now shines (again).