Blog

Oct 06
Unchallenged Legacy of Dr. Siran Upendra Deraniyagala: ‘Rare genius’ and ‘Inspirational’ Archaeologist

Even though he is gone now, he still is an outstanding archaeologist and academic. His grift and tenacity inspired not only me but people all over the world. His sudden and painful demise is a massive knock-on of the infrastructure of Sri Lankan Archaeological Academia which is potentially irreplaceable. We lose people every day. But, […]

Sep 20
Bandarawellian Culture: Open-air sites of the Church Hills of Bandarawela

A large number of open-air sites are located on the hilltops and saddles in the dry patana grasslands indicating the Terminal Pleistocene / Early Holocene microlithic phase extending into the intermediate upland Dry Zone (Zone E). Indeed the Bandarawela region is one the best-studied areas in terms of revealing the traces of Sri Lanka’s so-called […]

Sep 14
Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka and Where to Find Them

The Dutch forts of Sri Lanka are a unique group of monuments of the island’s tangible cultural heritage. Built by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the 17th and 18th centuries during their occupation of the littoral, these forts ranged from large fortified towns and citadels to small forts with a garrison of just […]

Sep 13
Sri Lanka Dive Sites – Historical Shipwreck Sites

Over 100 Sri Lanka Dive Sites are related to historical shipwrecks in Sri Lankan waters. They are scattered around the country, and there may be many unknown historical shipwrecks around the country. Most of the identified historical shipwrecks belong to the colonial period, and the oldest shipwreck site identified is the 2000 years old Godawaya […]

Sep 11
Katuwana Dutch Fort excavations: 20 years on

Sri Lanka has many colonial period monuments and chief among them are the forts, which are mainly of Dutch origin. While much has been studied about them, the archaeology of such sites of the Early Modern Period has rarely been investigated. It is only in the last few years that detailed archaeological excavations have been […]

Sep 11
Katuwana Dutch Fort excavations: 20 years on

Sri Lanka has many colonial period monuments and chief among them are the forts, which are mainly of Dutch origin. While much has been studied about them, the archaeology of such sites of the Early Modern Period has rarely been investigated. It is only in the last few years that detailed archaeological excavations have been […]

Sep 11
Embekke Devalaya- An icon of Sri Lankan Wood Carvings

Embekke Devalaya can be considered a significant architectural edifice along with its finest wood carvings. Its history extends back to the Gampola period. The Devalaya is located in the Medapalata Korale of Udunuwara area of the Kandy District. This place is dedicated to the Deity of Kataragama. It is believed that the Devalaya was first […]

Jun 14
Our Lost Cousins : Extinct Human Species

Our Lost Cousins Extinct Human Species  By Ama H. Vanniarachchy Our species is known as the Homo sapiens. We are the only surviving Homo species in today’s world. However, we were not the only human species that walked on earth. A very long time ago we shared the earth with more species of humans. This … Continue reading →

Jun 14
Meet Lucy and Ardi

By Ama H. Vanniarachchy Although we today separate ourselves from the rest of the animal kingdom, science proves that we were and we are a part of the animal kingdom. It is a fact that we humans, known as the Homo sapiens evolved from the apes. We share a common ape ancestor with chimpanzees. We … Continue reading Meet Lucy and Ardi →

May 14
Female Archaeologists in Sri Lanka

By Ama H. Vanniarachchy “Teach your daughter to use her own sword, so when she is in a battle she wouldn’t have to rely on someone else’s.” – Zufishan Rahman The discipline of Archaeology and the sector of Heritage Studies in Sri Lanka has mainly been male-centric and male dominant. There were only a few … Continue reading Female Archaeologists in Sri Lanka →