Ancient settlements unearthed in Jaffna - DLegal - Australian Solicitors and Migration Lawyers

Archaeological excavations have unearthed remains of ancient human settlements in

Vadamarachchi East area, Archaeology Director General, Dr. Senarath Dissanayake said.

"We have found evidence of three old human settlements in these areas. They have spread
over an area covering nearly three kilometres and are vitally important to prove the historical
background of Jaffna peninsula", he said.

"We have also found clay pots of varied colours depicting the time frame. They will help
archaeologists to determine the era of their usage. They are believed to have belonged to the
years between the beginning of BC and upto 900 BC. However, we can't say exactly what era
these settlements belong to, the Director General said.

"We have already completed the excavation work in Jaffna peninsular. Our findings have
pointed to a location identified as Kadurugoda which is known as Kandarodai where we have
unearthed remains of a large monastery (Sangawasaya).

Archaeologists believe that Kandarodaya belongs to ironic age and there are sufficient evidence
to suggest that these human settlements in Kandarodoi lead to the existence of a very old
history in the peninsula", Dr. Dissanayake said. *Wallipuram golden scroll provides vital facts
to determine the history of Jaffna peninsula. According to archaeologists, this Wachipuram
scroll belongs to the 2nd century.

We have also found a provincial palace (Yuwa Maligawa) and its pond belonging to royalty. We
also hope to identify the archaeological sites in places such as Mannar, Jaffna and Kilinochchi
and establish their identities in the near future, Dr. Dissanayake said.

Source Daily News

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Ancient settlements unearthed in Jaffna - DLegal - Australian Solicitors and Migration Lawyers

*Notes by Dinesh Weerakkody:

The place name Valli is a Ramayana name, and it is also a clear toponymic from "Vaeli", or
"sand" in Sinhala. The Vishnu temple here was constructed around the 13th century or later,
replacing the buddhist place of worship which was mentioned in the "Nampotha". It should be
noted that Buddhist and Hindu cults co-existed easily, even when the rulers did not, and hence
a Vaisnava tradition may have existed in early times as well. The deity of the temple is called
Vallipura Azhvar. Azhvar names are common in Vaishnavite tradition.

In the gold inscription of King Vasabha, where the local ruler is named as "Asagiri", a name
confirmd in the Nelugala stone inscription (2nd Century BC) as well. The Buddhist list of holy
places ("Nampotha") names it as "Vaelipura" or sand city. The exact details of the temple
complex are not known, and the famous 'Vallipuram" Buddha statue was found in
excavations below a subsequent Hindu Temple. Peter Shalk, a distinguished German Tamil
Scholar, writes " Vallipuram has very rich archaeological remains that point at an early
settlement. It was propably an emporium in the first centuries AD.

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