Dorawaka Ethubandi Cave – venture into Neolithic Era – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated off the beaten track in Uragala in close proximity to Warakapola in *Kegalle District, Dorawakkanda Cave also known as Dorawaka Ethubandi Cave Prehistoric Site has yielded some of the most sensational archaeological findings in recent times including several *Brahmi inscriptions. Also known as “Athabandi Lena”, this cave comprises primitive rock paintings depicting animals, the sun and moon and some unidentifiable objects. According to research carried out in this location, the habitation of this cave is in the transition period from Mesolithic to Protohistoric. Prior to the excavations, the rock cave has been dated to the proto historic Mesolithic period. Considered as a major breakthrough in history and archaeology of Sri Lanka as evidence regarding the existence of civilization during the Neolithic Period in Sri Lanka was discovered, although, tosses and vestiges of man pertaining to this era ...
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Digging into ‘Kota Vehera’ By Somasiri Devendra (An excerpt from “Jungles, Ruins and Shipwrecks”) Once, only, did I have the privilege of watching a systematic archaeological excavation in progress. [Note:The excavation was conducted by my father, D.T.Devendra, Asst. Commissioner of Archaeology] It was the excavation of the “Kota Vehera” at Dedigama, the supposed birth spot of Parakramabahu l. Called “Kota” vehera because its upper structure (hataras-kotuwa, devata-kotuwa and kot-kerella) had not been completed, it was really a massive structure. Dagobas are built upwards from far below ground level, in solid brick and stone up to and above the relic chambers. Above that was a rubble, brick-bat and earth filling, with the brickwork outside gradually tapering off the dome. So to get inside one, you entered from above, with no damage done, and dig till you come to the solid brickwork. The serious work begins then. By the time I was ...
Ingenious elephant lamp at Dedigama – marvelous craftsmanship of yesteryear By Arundathie Abeysinghe Unique elephant lamp discovered from *Dedigama Kota Vehera (Sutighara Stupa) is an ingenious creation based on hydro static principles displayed at the Dedigama Museum. The elephant lamp has been excavated from the upper relic chamber of Sutighara Stupa at Dedigama in 1951. There are three stupas of the Kota Vehera type in Sri Lanka; Sutighara Cetiya at Dedigama, *the stupa at Yudaganawa (largest stupa in the south and east of Sri Lanka) and the Damila thupa at Polonnaruwa which date to the 12th century and are attributed to King Parakramabahu I. According to scholars, during the Polonnaruwa Era, the oil lamp has been an integral element of art and religion of Sri Lankan society and various artistic elements had been added to adorn the structure of the oil lamp. Oil lamps had often been made with ...
