Browsing by Author "Rambukwella, C."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Archaeological Landscape of the Lower Montane Region of Sri Lanka: Socio-cultural Aspects of Archaeological Sites
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Rambukwella, C.
Archaeological Landscape of the Lower Montane Region of Sri Lanka: Socio-Cultural Aspects of Archaeological Sites
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Rambukwella, C.
The objective of the research is to study the socio-cultural aspects of archaeological sites in the middle Mahaweli river basin which represents the lower montane region of the island. The area of study is significant in terms of its physiography. The present study area, the lower montane region of Sri Lanka, is demarcated for the purpose of the study as the area between 1000 – 3500 feet which is dominated by its own environmental factors. The Archaeological and historical evidence shows that the middle basin of the river Mahaweli has been thickly inhabited by humans since early Holocene. However, the knowledge about the development of human settlements of the region is scarce. This scarcity is crucially influential to understand the subsequent developments in the middle basin of the river Mahaweli towards its upper reaches. The middle part of the river basin has been neglected archaeologically during the last 100 years of research in the island due to some practical reasons. Hence, the previous studies on the ancient human settlements in Sri Lanka are confined to the coastal plains or the dry zone of the island. The textual information and cursory observations suggest that the middle Mahaweli basin has a great potential of cultural continuity from the pre- history up to the late historic periods. The filed data in this research will give support to understand the contribution of the early human settlements in the cultural development of the whole island throughout the history. In this context, almost all archaeological sites were directly connected to the socio-cultural aspects that were embraced by the settlements in the vicinity. Hence, those archeological sites will give an insight into the socio-cultural aspects of the heritage in the region.
Archaeological Landscape of the Lower Montane region of Sri Lanka: socio-religious aspect of archaeological sites
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Rambukwella, C.
The objective of the study is to survey the emergence and the development of the early human settlements in the middle Mahaweli river basin. This area represents the lower montane region of the island. The lower montane region of Sri Lanka belongs to the area from 1000 to 3500ft above the mean sea level. The Archaeological and historical evidence shows that the middle basin of the river Mahaweli has been thickly inhabited by humans since early Holocene. The continuity of the cultural activity of the middle and lower Mahaweli basin can be traced up to the l8th century and onwards. However, the middle part of the river basin has been neglected archaeologically during the last 100 years of research in the island due to some practical reasons. The textual information and cursory observations suggest that the middle Mahaweli basin has a great potential of cultural continuity from the pre- history up to the late historic period. 900 BCE demarcates the emergence of the early agricultural practice and the beginning of the use of Iron in Sri Lanka. Beyond that point the gradual expansion of the settled agricultural communities is evident throughout the island. In spite of that, the knowledge about the development of human settlement of the lower montane region is scarce. This scarcity is crucially influential to understand the subsequent developments in the middle basin of the river Mahaweli towards its upper reaches. In this research it is expected to unearth a set of field data, which will be able to support to understand the contribution of the human settlements to the cultural development of the island as a whole throughout the history. Within this context it is significant that almost all the archaeological sites have been directly connected to religion that embraced by the settlements in the vicinity, which will give an insight in to the religio-cultural aspect of heritage in ancient Sri Lanka. Moreover, current socio-economic development of the country, including in the lower montane region, and rapid demographic expansion threatened the survival of archaeological landscape of the respective locations. Therefore, survey, recording and study of this endangered archaeological heritage is crucially important for the future of the island.
The ‘Museion’ and ‘Museum’ towards a ‘new’ or ‘real’ Museum
(Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2011) Rambukwella, C.
Traditional Ivory Crafts and Technology in Sri Lanka: A Historical and Technological Perspective
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Rambukwella, C.
Firm evidence of ivory crafts and technology in Sri Lanka goes back to the pre-Christian era. Early Brahmi inscriptions and archaeological data provide information of ivory objects, craftsmen and craftsmanship in the country. The Vegiri Devale early Brahmi inscription of 3rd century BC situated near Kandy city in Sri Lanka mentioned the word Datika among other specific words such as Kubaraka (potter) and Manikara (lapidary -Gem cutter). According to Senerath Paranavitana, the word Datika is linked with ivory craft and the word itself means the ivory-worker. Historical sources, later documents and ethno- archaeological studies also provide many narratives of multi- purpose usage of ivory in Sri Lanka from ancient times to the recent past. In Sri Lanka the word ivory is used for elephants’ tusks only and not for the other tooth. Scarcity of the material led to high demand resulting in acquiring ivory as a prestigious symbol. Hence, the ivory tradition flourished in Sri Lanka and continued from 18th century feudalistic Kandiyan Kingdom to the British period and beyond. However, the traditional craftsmanship that was practiced genealogically and maintained a high standard ceased when the use of ivory was prohibited in Sri Lanka by imposed laws. Ancient ivory crafts specimens and records show that ivory crafts and technology used traditional methods and technologies in Sri Lanka until the recent past. This paper attempts to illustrate the traditional methods and the technologies used in the magnificent old tradition of ivory craft in Sri Lanka.