Browsing by Author "Saldin, M."
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Item Archaeological Heritage in Biyagama Division(University of Kelaniya, 2006) Gunawardhana, P.; Namalgamuwa, H.; Bandara, N.; Wijesuriya, D.; Saldin, M.; Mahoney, T.Archaeological heritage of the Kelaniya region goes back to the Proto-historic times. The transitional phase from the Mesolithic culture of the Pre-historic period to the Protohistoric or Early Iron Age is revealed in the region. The Proto-historic period in Sri Lanka is believed to be in 1000 BC (Senaviratne, 1985). The black and red ware found from the Pilapitiya, draws our attention to the fact that the Kelani valley region has played a key role during this period. According to the chronicles, Kelaniya had been an organized city and remained a remarkable strategic point from the 3 rd century BC. As ancient Sri Lanka was strategically located on the trade routes between south –East Asia and west Asia, it is suggested that Kalyani or Kalyani pattanam might have functioned as a main sea port of the city where many traders lived and engaged in the international trade. However, due to the rapid development of the socio-economic sector in the country, it tended to change the cultural landscape and also the contemporary appearance of the buildings, monuments and sites. For the investigation of this region as an initial stage, we used the unsystematic survey method which has identified about one hundred thirty seven archaeological heritage sites (Gunawardhana, 2006). The aim of this paper is to discuss the archaeological heritage of Biyagama division and will finish addressing the concepts of archaeological heritage of this environment.Item Areas of Attraction and Areas of Isolation: A Case Study of the Havanevela Cist Burial(University of Kelaniya, 2012) Saldin, M.The village of Havanevela is located in the Havanevela Gramasevaka Division in the Galewela Divisional Secretariat of the Matale District. The site is located seven kilometres from the Galevela junction and can be approached via the Galevela- Matale road (B345). The preliminary excavation at the Havanevela cist burial carried out in 2007 by the Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya provided valuable evidence with regard to the cist burial culture in the Upper Kala Oya region. Furthermore, it also augmented Prof. Sudarshan Seneviratne’s (1987) theory on areas of attraction and areas of isolation/ relative isolation in relation to two other significant cist burials in the Upper Kala Oya region, Ibbankatuva and Yatigalpotta. This paper aims to discuss the testing of Seneviratne’s above mentioned theory in relation to the data recovered from Havanevela.Item Begging or cooking: a study on the monastic life of the Anuradhapura hinterland(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Adikari, G.; Gunawardhana, P.; Coningham, R.; Saldin, M.; Namalgamuwa, H.Item Burials within the Dutch reformed churches of Sri Lanka(University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, 2007) Saldin, M.Item Church Burials of Dutch Sri Lanka(University of Kelaniya, 2007) Saldin, M.!\tier expelling the Portuguese from the coasts of Sri Lanka it was the Dutch who ruled the Maritime Province. The Dutch were successful in the total expulsion of the Portuguese in 1658 with the surrender of Jaffna (de Silva, 2005: 11 ). One of the principle testimonies and living legacies of Dutch rule in Sri Lanka are its churches. Only three Reformed Churches built during the heyday of the Dutch remain standing to the present day (Brohier, 2001). They are the Dutch Reformed Church at Wolvendaal (also known as Adirippm eediya Palliya), the Galle Dutch Reformed Church and the Matara Dutch Reformed Church. These churches arc line examples of Dutch architectural tradition executed by local craftsmen. Although the deceased are traditionally buried in a cemetery adjoining the church it is significant that these churches also entomb Dutch Gm crnors of Sri Lanka. their kin and other notable families vvithin the church building itself (de Silva and Beumer, 1988). Several tombstones found within the church are as paving for the floor. In addition the remains of deceased persons were also placed within the walls of the church. It was customary for the Dutch to bury the dead within the Church and they appear to have carried on this tradition in Sri Lanka as well as Batavia (Modern day Jakarta, Indonesia). Burial inside the church \\as reserved l(lr those who could pay the highest sum and many Christians believed that burial within or near the church was a wa: to be close to God (Sloan. 2002: ~n. This paper hopes to discuss \ arious features of these tombstones especially as they reveal several important clues of past life to archaeologists i.e. the carvings for instance suggest the use of local craftsmen. and the motifs used on the tombstones also have different symbolic meanings. Important families also have their coat of arms emblazoned on their tombstones, which indicate a social hierarchy. Through the study of these tombstones we may also better understand the attitude people had towards death, which is essential to understand society as a whole.Item Dating the jungle tide: scientifically dating the abandonment of Anuradhapura(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Strickland, K.; Simpson, I.; Adikari, G.; Saldin, M.; Namalgamuwa, H.Item Defence strategies of the Malays of Sri Lanka: the use of the legendary Keris(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Saldin, M.Item Developing Archaeological tourism in prehistoric cave sites of Sri Lanka: potentials and pitfalls(University of Kelaniya, 2013) Saldin, M.The aim of this paper is to present a preliminary discussion of the potentials and pitfalls of developing archaeological tourism in prehistoric cave sites in Sri Lanka. It is evident that there were prehistoric settlements in Sri Lanka by ca. 125,000 BP. Evidence of the island‟s prehistoric past are apparent from the coastal deposits such as the Iranamadu formation, the gem bearing alluvial gravels of the Ratnapura district as well as cave sites or rock shelters located throughout the country. Prehistoric sites such Fa-hien cave, Batadombalena, Kitulagala (lowland wet zone in South-western Sri Lanka), Aligala, Pothana (Dry Zone North Central Province), Vettambugala, Hulannuge, Rajagala (Dry Zone, Eastern Province), Alawala and Varana (Wet Zone, Western Province) are some cave/ rock shelters which have provided significant evidence of prehistoric activities. In terms of archaeological tourism attractions, these prehistoric cave sites present a vast untapped potential. As Sri Lanka is set on achieving a target of 2.5 million tourists by the year 2016, the island is faced with a great need to diversify its tourism products. Therefore, there is a great potential to develop these prehistoric cave sites into archaeological tourism products. The study has utilized data derived from field visits to selected cave sites, interviews with relevant authorities in the fields of tourism and archaeology, as well as related literary sources.Item Do Terracotta Figurines Suggest a Burial Pattern?(University of Kelaniya, 2007) Gunawardhana, P.; Coningharn, R.; Adikari, G.; Katugampola, M.; Namalgamuwa, H.; Saldin, M.; Simpson, I.; Batt, C.Terracotta figurines were discovered extensively in the northern, north central and eastern dry zones of Sri Lanka. The discovered sites indicate that they arc closely connected with river basins, canals, tanks and agricultural landscapes (Deraniyagala, 1972). The fact that many of the sites were located in agricultural areas suggests terracotta figurines might have served as cult images due to their significance in the agricultural society. These figurines may be the offerings of the rural people who could not afford to dedicate more valuable items to the Gods. Possibly they may have acted as cult images of fertility in small shrines. The aim of this paper is to discuss the results of the excavation at Waragoda in Anuradhapura. This privately owned land is located I 00 meters away from the Y oda-ela left bank that flows into the Nuwara-weva in the Anuradhapura city centre. This site was identified by the Upper Malwatu Oya archaeological exploration project in 2007. In the same year a 1 x4 metre trench excavation was conducted adjoining the house as an archaeological rescue operation due to settler's decision to expand the house. The most common type of female and animal figurines found there represents a popular artistic form. The five female figurines which are sitting on the ship seem to have been made as two halves then joined together. Perhaps the heads were designed separately and connected to the figure showing classic techniques of production significant to this culture. The hairstyle and dress of the female figurines express the popular fashion and designs which may have existed in this culture. In addition to that the six vessels which were placed in a central position towards the north south direction plays a key role among the findings. Significantly male and female rock art faces engraved at Budugala in Ratnapura District also show a similar facial expression in terracotta. Most of the figurines were discovered on the surface level of the site. One of the main objectives of this excavation was to attempt to establish the chronological sequence of this culture. The figurines found from the site are in fragments as the objects were probably broken before the God after prayers. Then the figurines were accumulated in the shrine and carefully deposited into the grave beside the shrine.Item Havanvela: a Megalithic Cist Burial Site from the Matale District(University of Kelaniya, 2007) Saldin, M.; Adikari, G.; Gunawardhana, P.The megalithic mortuary complex of Sri Lanka falls primarily within the proto-historic period whose earliest manifestation in Sri Lanka is dated to 1000- 800 BC at Anuradhapura and Aligala shelter at Sigiriya (Deraniyagala 1992: 709-29, Karunaratne and Adikari 1994: 58). The megalithic burial tradition is one of the main features of this period although there is evidence of its survival to later periods as well (Seneviratne 1984). Havanvela is situated in close proximity to Galewela of the Matale District in the intermediary transitional eco zone. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Havanvela is a megalithic cist burial site. It is interesting to note that this burial is located in the Upper Kala Oya Region in close proximity to the cist burials of Ibbankatuva, Yatigalpotta and Anakatava. Of these sites Ibbankatuva is the only one to be assigned a radiocarbon range of 750- 400 BC. Hence it would be interesting to research the possibility of these sites being contemporary to each other especially considering the similarities in grave architecture. The Havanvela site is currently in danger of being destroyed du~ to the site being used as a general cemetery in modem times. The aim of this paper is to present a plan to protect and manage the heritage of this site in order to protect it from further destruction.Item Megalithic burials and the Anuradhapura factor(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Saldin, M.; Gunawardhana, P.; Coningham, R.Item Miniature art: female dominance of the terracotta figurines(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Gunawardhana, P.; Coningham, R.; Adikari, G.; Strickland, K.; Katugampola, M.; Namalgamuwa, H.; Saldin, M.; Simpson, I.; Batt, C.Item සංස්කෘතිය, දේශපාලනය හා ශ්රී ලංකාවේ අනාගතය(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Gunawardhana, P.; Bandara, N.; Namalgamuwa, H.; Saldin, M.