Bohingamuwa, Wijerathne;
Blinkhorn, James;
Horton, Mark;
Adikari, Gamini;
Fuller, Dorian Q;
Pushpakumara, TDC;
Gunasena, Kaushalya;
(2025)
An Archaeological Investigation at the Port Site of Kirinda in Southern Sri Lanka.
Ancient Ceylon
, 29
(1)
pp. 27-54.
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Abstract
This paper presents preliminary results of limited excavations undertaken at Kirinda, a small Early Historic site situated on the coast in southeastern Sri Lanka. The primary objective of this paper is to establish the site’s sedimentological and cultural phasing based on radiocarbon dates and chronologically diagnostic ceramics while also providing an overview of material culture, including evidence for agriculture. This excavation revealed three distinct cultural phases, of which the oldest could be further subdivided into three sub-cultural phases. Collectively, the cultural sequence at Kirinda dates from around the late third/fourth century CE to about the eighth or ninth centuries CE. This is broad agreement with the historical sources, which date the earliest occupation to the third century BCE. The material culture is dominated by locally made, coarse ware ceramics and glass beads. While there is evidence for the on-site production of glass beads, both the local ceramics and the local glass beads are technologically inferior to those from contemporary urban sites such as Anuradhapura, Kantharōdai, and Mantai. Other artefacts, including imported ceramics and beads, are limited and fragmentary. Overall, the material culture evidence indicates that Kirinda remained a minor fisheries harbour throughout its occupation, while engaging in minimal interactions with Indian Ocean maritime networks.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | An Archaeological Investigation at the Port Site of Kirinda in Southern Sri Lanka |
| Publisher version: | https://archaeology.gov.lk/ancientceylon/ |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Early Historic period, Indian Ocean, maritime, coastal, ceramics, beads, Rice, agriculture, cotton |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10212564 |
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