Science: Archaeology: Regional: Asia: Sri Lanka

A paper by S.U. Deraniyagala, Director-General of Archaeology, Sri Lanka presented at the Proceedings of the XIII Congress Forli'-Italia, 8-14 September, 1996 discussing the cultures, timing, and paleo climates from the first human influences to the Historic Period in Sri Lanka.

A description of The Prehistory of Sri Lanka: an Ecological Perspective, memoir volume 8 of the Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka by S.U. Deraniyagala including an abstract, addenda, notes, and references.

An article by Prof. W. I. Siriweera, Vice Chancellor, Rajarata University describing the current understanding of Polonnaruwa a city on the Mahaveli River in Sri Lanka.

The Archaeology of Southern Sri Lanka is a project supported by SAREC and the University of Uppsala. The primary purpose of which is to carry out archaeological research in the non-Sinhalese areas of Sri Lanka.

A short article by A. van Schaik of the University of Leiden describing current cooperation and calling for further cooperation concerning VOC (Dutch East India Company) Period researches.

An article by Asiff Hussein describing the 1997 discovery by Raj Somadeva and a 10 member team of a shell midden with skeletal remains and stone implements dating to 6000BP.

An article by Tharuka Dissanaike describing the implications of the 1997 discovery of 6000BP human remains at Pallemalala.

A short description of the Sri Lankan-German Ancient Ruhuna Project. Began in 1994, the project is a cooperative archaeological research effort in the Southern Province by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka, the Commission for General and Comparative Archaeology of the German Archaeological Institute, and the University of Bonn.

An article by S. Kailash Sitrampalam documenting the roots of Muruka worship in Sri Lanka.

A comparison of historical and archaeological data.

Describes maritime realted archaeology and history of Sri Lanka, including guide to wrecks of European ships from the 17th century.

Promotes archaeological research of two major sites in the Southern Province, i.e. the ancient capital at Tissamaharama, and the harbour site at Godavaya.

Numerous articles and images on prehistoric settlements, some made perhaps 500 millenia ago.

From Sunday Observer, general information on seals.

Environmentalists warn that unchecked vandalism and neglect is destroying thousands of ancient rock caves in Sri Lanka dating back to 30,500 BC, with scores of Buddha statues rendered headless, and paintings defaced.

Features Kavan Ratnatunga's trip to the Ruhuna Region of Sri Lanka in December, 2001. With description and photos of coins and artifacts excavated from this area.