SRI LANKAN HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

Proto Historic & Historic Periods

Lecture 02
14th January 2015

Prof. Samitha Manawadu

Department of Architecture
University of Moratuwa

SRI LANKA

MAP OF SRI LANKA

SHALLOW SEABED CAUSING INFLUENCES

SRI LANKA

1. Bundala, Hambantota District;

125,000 BC;
Excavations in Costal Deposits near
Bundala;
Evidence of the Oldest Human
Remains found in Sri Lanka;

80,000 BC;
Second Oldest man found:

2. Pathirajawela, Ambalantota;
120,000 BC;
Oldest Lankan Human remains and
his stone tools;
20,000 before Neanderthal;

3
4
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3. Ellawala, Rathnapura District;

80,000 BC;
Remains of Lions, Hippos, and
Rhinoceros;
4. Pahiyangala, Kalutara District;
30,500 BC;
Third Oldest man found;

1. Beli-lena and Batadomba-lena

in Kuruwita;
28,500 BC;
Balangoda Man, regarded
as original Lankan;
Business between coastal
belts and hills; salt has
been brought;
Burial Customs;

1
2
4

2.

Bellan Bendi Pelessa, Embilipitiya;

Site of a Balangoda Man;

3.

Mannar;

Site of a Balangoda Man;

4.

Bundala;

Site of a Balangoda Man;

5.

Horton Place;

15,000 BC;

5.

Alawala, Gampaha:

13,000 BC; Remains f 02 bodies;

6.

Alu-lena, Attanagoda, Kegalle;

10,500 BC;

Human remains discovered;

SRI LANKAN MEGALITHIC

SITES WITH LITHIC RECORDS

PROTOHISTORIC

Silk Road
in the Sea
CHINESE ARABIAN

CULTURAL CONTAMINATIONS (A History)

IBN BATUTA

VIJAYANAGAR
3

CULTURAL CONTAMINATIONS (A History)

MARCO POLO

CULTURAL CONTAMINATIONS (A History)

EUROPEAN

PORTUGUESE

PROTO-HISTORIC PERIOD OF SRI LANKAN CULTURAL HISTORY

Relationship between Mahavamsa References and Archaeological
Findings:
Three Visits of Gautama Buddha to Sri Lanka:

First Visit during the 9th month of Buddhahood;

To Mahanaga Garden in Mahiyangana;

On the bank of River Mahaveli; and,

In Dry Zone Region;

To an assemblage of Yakkha tribe.

Second Visit during the 5th of Buddhahood,

To Nagadipa in Jaffna peninsula,

To settle a dispute between two Naga tribal leaders.

Third Visit during the 8th year of the Buddhahood,

To Kelaniya,

In Wet-Zone

On an invitation of a Naga Leader.

Visited Sri Pada to meet Deva.

Indirect Revelation is that three different tribes or clans, and parts of both dry and wet zones had been settled down.

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Mahavamsa References on
Proto-historic Settlements
Settlements in the vicinity of Thambapanni

Sirivattha; administered by Yakkha ruler Kalasena;

Lankapura; in the vicinity of Sirivattha and administered by a separate

ruler.

Thambapanni, administrative centre of Prince Vijaya

Followers of Prince Vijaya founded settlements for themselves

Anuradhagama (8)on the bank of Kadambanadi;

Upatissagama (5), on the bank of deep river, north of Kadambanadi.

Administrative centre during transition.

Vijithagama(9);

Uruvelagama(6);
Majority of settlements on river banks of Dry-zone. Characterized of
Neolithic Villages.

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Mahavamsa References on
Proto-historic Settlements

Mahavamsa references on
Ports and Harbors;
Mahatittha(), most referred
fort . Princess Vijaya and
500 females arrived.
Gonagamakatittha(13),
Panduvasdeva and
Princess Baddhakachchna
arrived.

Brothers of Princess Baddhkachchana founded settlements

for themselves

Viithagama(9);

Dighayugama (14);

Rohanagama(16).

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Reservoir Constructions to improve Living

Environments
444 BC Anuradhavapi;
410 Gaminivapi

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Characteristics of Early Historic Urbanization

as reflected in Mahavamsa

Attempts to confine Princes Chitra atop a single pillar chamber;

Early attempt to kill infant Pandukabhaya.

A Servant Girl carrying a basket with the Prince Pandukabhaya to

Dwaragama, which is located away from the centre.
An indication of distinctive settlements.
Abandonment of self reliance.
Emergence of experts.

Thumbakanda Mountain Stream, an indication of a suburb in the periphery

of the centre.

Uncles of Pandukabhaya administering independent territories.

Kalahanagara place of main battle to capture the power by Pandukabhaya.

Pandukabhaya crossing Mahaveliganaga to Dola Mountain to sojourn in

preparation for a war.
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Characteristics of Early Historic Urbanization

as reflected in Mahavamsa
Uncles of Pandukabhaya founding fortification near Dhumarukkha Mountain as
a preparatory action for war.
Pandukabhaya overran fortification, and expelled uncles to opposite bank
of the river.

Defeat was reported to the centre, administered by the eldest uncle Abhaya.
Abhaya was ousted by younger brother Tissa for favoring Pandukabhaya.

Pandukabhaya sought assistance from aborigines to defeat uncles.

Yakkhini Cetiya (widow of Yakkha leader Jutindara died during the battle for
Sirivattupura)

Prince Pandukabhaya organizing the army while staying in the Dhumarukkha

mountain and Aritta mountain.

08 uncles except Abhaya and Girikandaka, fortified a city called Nagaraka, a

cantonment city to fight the prince Pandukabhaya in the vicinity of Aritta
Mountain.
Al uncles were killed during the war, and territories were unified..
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SRI LANKAN HISTORY OF

ARCHITECTURE

Anuradhapura Period (377 BC to

993 AD);
Polonnaruwa Period (993 to 1256);
Dambadeniya Period/ Yapahuwa
(1256 to 1275);
Kurunegala (1275 1341);
Gampola Period(1341 to 1411);
Kotte Period (1411 to 1675);
Kandy period (1675 to 1815);
Colombo and Colonial period
(1815 to 1948);

MEDIEVAL HISTORIC PERIOD OF SRI LANKA

Polonnaruwa Period (10th C to 13th C AD):

Regal Capital at Kalinga Magha City of Polonnaruwa;
Attempted rehabilitation of Anuradhapura;
Construction of reservoir systems an monastic establishments in
Polonnaruwa;

Dambadeniya Period/ Yapahuwa (13th C early):

Regal capital at Dambadeniya;
Disappearance of Reservoir Systems;
Do away with large scale buildings;

Kurunegala (13th C later):

Regal Capital at Kurunegala;
Continuation of Dambadeniya Tradition;

Gampola Period (14th C Early):

Moderate size buildings;
New concept of Planning;
New concept of Image Houses;

LATE HISTORIC PERIOD OF SRI LANKA

Kotte Period (14th C Late to 16th C):

Wet zone Regal capital;
European invasions;
Local building materials;
Insignificant structures;
Threats to Buddhism and degradation of religion;

Kandy period (16th C 19th C):

Self-protected Regal City;
Small scale buildings;
New materials of construction;

Colombo and Colonial period (16th C to mid 20th C):

Maritime townships;
European architecture and planning concepts;
Colonial dominations;
Revival of Dry zone settlement region;

HETEROGENEOU
S
ARCHITECTURE

ART & ARCHITECTURE

MEMORIES

LESSONS
FROM
THE
TRADITION

Northern
architecture

SIGIRIYA
CITADEL
460-478 AD

SIGIRIYA CITADEL PROJECT

LESSONS
FROM THE
TRADITION

REMNANTS FROM
THE COLONIAL PAST

Rural vernacular

Traditional House

Dry-zone Rural Area

COLONIAL LAYER OF COLOMBO

Pseudo Traditional Architecture

Continuum Group

Metabolic Group

Sri Lanka
Parliament

Borrowed
International
Architecture

Madura Prematilleke

1990s

The End