Search results for "Archaeology"
Found 6 results
Integrative Approaches in Archaeology: The Imperative for Multidisciplinary Research
By Ajiththa Suganthan
This paper has explored the imperative role of multidisciplinary approaches within archaeological research, advocating for the integration of diverse scientific and scholarly disciplines as a means to enhance the understanding of past human activities. Through a thematic analysis, the paper elucidates the evolution of archaeology as a multidisciplinary field, drawing upon historical perspectives and contemporary case studies. These case studies illustrate successful integrations of geospatial technologies, bioarcheology, and ancient DNA analysis, among other disciplines, underscoring the rich insights gained from such collaborative endeavors. The discussion further delves into the challenges inherent in multidisciplinary research, such as logistical coordination, methodological discrepancies, and the hurdles of cross-disciplinary communication. Nevertheless, the benefits, including comprehensive site analysis, improved conservation strategies, and informed policy development, are presented as overwhelmingly justifying these challenges. Looking forward, the paper suggests promising new research directions and emphasizes the crucial need for supportive funding and institutional frameworks to foster and sustain interdisciplinary collaboration. The conclusion reiterates the thesis, emphasizing that multidisciplinary methodologies are not merely beneficial but vital to the progression and relevance of archaeological inquiry. Through this synthesis, the paper serves as a call to action for the archaeological community to embrace and further integrate multidisciplinary perspectives, ensuring the field’s growth and the rich interpretation of our shared human past.
Investigation of Ancient Pre-colonial Monuments in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
By Mrs. Ajiththa Suganthan
One of the most difficult aspects of understanding Jaffna’s history and archaeology is the peninsula’s general lack of pre-colonial monumental structures. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, two ancient Sri Lankan cities, are surrounded by temples and stupas. These monuments date to the pre-colonial period. These historic landmarks can still be seen today. These are remarkable pieces of evidence for understanding ancient monuments and history. Even though Jaffna was once a prominent ancient trade center, no pre-colonial structures or monuments have been discovered in the region. Although temples and buildings have been mentioned numerous times throughout history, no monuments have been found. There were no previews of the study that addressed the question of why Jaffna lacked Kingdom monuments, particularly pre-colonial associated architectural structures. The purpose of this inquiry is to identify the number of pre-colonial monuments that are still in Jaffna. The second objective is to understand why Jaffna is missing kingdom-related structures like those seen in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. The thesis does not discuss the European invasion of Jaffna or its aftermath. The study was conducted in the form of a survey, with data gathered from the Archaeology Department, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. In addition, the research utilized archival material from ancient period literatures, Portuguese references, travelers’ notes, and archaeological records. The Portuguese heritage monuments and pre-colonial monuments were mapped using GIS. The analysis has revealed that the evidence from the Five Buildings is from the Portuguese period. The other eleven are pre-colonial monuments. It is clear that several of the pre-colonial monuments were altered throughout the years until the end of the Dutch period. Prior to the Dutch period, Jaffna had four periods of monuments: ancient, Chola, Jaffna Kingdom, and Portuguese. More study should be conducted to explore the structure of pre-colonial monuments utilizing ground penetrating radar.
Time and Space - A Theoretical and Conceptual Approach in Historical Archaeology (with special reference to Buddhist and Hindu Architecture in Sri Lanka)
By Dr. Dananjaya Gamalath, Dr. Nayomi Kekulawala
This research study intends to investigate the concept of time and space found in Historical Archaeology with reference to Buddhist and Hindu Architecture. The research problem is how to do the analysis regarding the specific Buddhist or Hindu monastic building units situated within the monastery space by using the theory of time and space. The theory of time and space can be introduced as one of the most widely used theories for analysis in the field of historical archeology. And explaining how space can be used theoretically. All architectural creations are created in proportion to their needs, and the conceptual basis on which they are based is analyzed through the use of the theory, which later incorporates and develops various influences into those creations over time and space. The use of space in historical architecture in relation to religious contexts is discussed here with Hindu Buddhist examples. Attention was drawn to the main historical constructions of the Buddha image House and the Hindu Kovil as well as the location of the buildings in the Buddhist and Hindu monastery spaces and the theoretical variations that affect them. In addition to analyzing the use of space through time and space theory in Buddhist architectural constructions in Sri Lanka during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras up to the 19th century, theoretical research shows how to identify the interior space zones of a Buddha image house or a Hindu temple.
Prehistoric Life in the Jaffna Peninsula - A Preliminary Investigations for the study of Stone Age culture base on Archaeological Evidences
By Professor. S. Krishnarajah
The investigation undertaken here on prehistoric life in the Jaffna Peninsula is a preliminary study of the stone age culture based on archaeological evidences. Having considered the remarkable collection of stone implements from the Jaffna Peninsula, it is expected to stratify the cultural successions before the historical records came to use in the Peninsula. Most of the excavation missions so far have been deployed in this region which focused light on the Megalithic cultural layers and material culture of the period. But for the first time an excavation mission was targeted by the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka with finding of prehistoric layer deposits and prehistoric remains at Kantarodai and Mayakkai in 2011 and 2020 respectively in the Peninsula. The concept of prehistoric settlements in the Jaffna Peninsula had been developed from the research findings of this author who has been working since more than 30 years in collecting of material like stone tools in many variety which had been used by the mankind lived in this Peninsula before the written records come to the usage. This investigation has been categorized into the three main divisions based on the material we received in relation to the prehistoric life adopted in this land. Having conducted explorations, surface collections and unexpected discoveries of artifacts from the archaeological sites like Mayakkai Cave site in Point Pedro District and the Lower Valley of Thondamanaru salt water basin site have yielded much stone implements from time to time. The most important discovery was held that the 31st Layer of the 2nd Trench Pit at Kantarodai (excavation held in 2011) which exposes the prehistoric sediments. Thus, the morphology of the stone tools found so far from the Peninsula stimulate us to develop a room for research space for prehistoric life existed in this peninsular region. Though the time span of the prehistoric culture is much wider, our material collections are very narrow for this particular period of research as the title indicates the aim and scope of the investigation is a preliminary studies. Our proposed hypotheses have enhanced to highlight the prehistoric cultural strata with the life style of the people who lived before the historic ages. Therefore, this is not an entity of un-witnessed mission or concepts but the collection of accumulated man made implements from the surface basins of Thondamanaru and Valukiyaru have testified our hypotheses that ‘The prehistoric settlement was formed from the sand dune area which was located in Vadamaradchi- East, as the northern edge of the expansion of Iranaimadu Culture ends. B.) Deviation of Neolithic Life and Microlithic culture intermingled in the Lower part of Thondamanaru Salt basin and C.) Prehistoric Cultural epicenter was formed at Mayakkai in Vadamaradchi as socio- economic influences received from Iranaimadu Basin at the time. However, to make very clear cut phenomena of the prehistoric cultural phases from Palaeolithic, Microlithic and Neolithic cultural strata in the Jaffna Peninsula we need to have stratigraphic evidences which will be available when excavations taking place. However, in this introductory research a preliminary examination has been done in order to verifying the collected stone tools of the cultures.
An Archaeological Comparison of Late Medieval Non-Religious Architecture between Kerala and Sri Lanka
By Buddisha Jayashan Weerasuriya
Literary sources do not contain much information about significant events that took place in the history of a country, but it is not difficult to find them through archaeological sources. Although, it is difficult to confirm something that happened in history, it is possible if the information obtained from the archaeology matches any picture of the past in line with the sources of historical literature. This study of non-religious architecture in Kerala and Sri Lanka can be called a research of that kind. This study focuses on predominant similarities in non-religious architecture between Kerala and Sri Lanka with an archaeological perspective. The main purpose of this study is to show how an architectural tradition developed in the late medieval period is different from the architectural style used in Sri Lanka until then. Here the late medieval period after the 13th century and here the colonial period is also studied. In this study, the data was collected by conducting field visits to some of the chosen regions of Kerala and Sri Lanka, and the snowball sampling method was used to achieve this. The research required the study of a number of architectural textbooks as well as historical sources in parallel with archaeological sources. After classifying the collected data, the anomalies of the architectural features of the two zones were studied. The study concludes by examining the theoretical factors that contributed to the building of architectural similarities between Kerala and Sri Lanka.
The Hindu - Buddhist religious and social reconciliation reflected from pre-Buddhist time to the 3rd Century AC period in Sri Lanka
By Dr. Dananjaya Gamalath, Dr. Nayomi Kekulawala
This topic and the research undergone the subject of Historical Archaeology and its social factors which were covering major part of nature of the subject. The Archaeological evidence confirms that the cross-cultural and social ties between the people of South India and Sri Lanka in pre-Buddhist time of the history are being revealed from earlier years. Archaeological evidence of various artefacts as well as settlements such as coins, pots and carvings belonging to the pre- Buddhist period have been found in the North, North Central, North Western and Eastern as well as Southern Provinces of Sri Lanka. According to these facts, among the religious beliefs practiced by the people in the early period before the conversion to Buddhism were tree worship, rock worship and sun deities, etc, these religions attributed divinity to objects of nature are prominent, and there is evidence that religions such as phallic worship, which were part of the Vedic Hindu faith, were prevalent among the people