Ihala Kalawella Ulpatha Protohistoric Burial Site

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Ihala Kalawella Ulpatha: A Window into Sri Lanka’s Protohistoric Past

Discover Ihala Kalawella Ulpatha, a hidden archaeological gem deep in the Anuradhapura jungles, where ancient cist burials, early iron technology, and layers of human history reveal how Sri Lanka’s first farming communities lived, engineered stone, and shaped the island over 2,500 years ago.

Deep within the thick forests of the Anuradhapura District, far removed from common visitor routes, lies Ihala Kalawella Ulpatha—a site that offers a rare look into the lives of the island’s protohistoric communities. Over 2,500 years ago, these early agro-pastoral groups lived, cultivated the land, and carried out distinctive burial rituals that reveal their cultural sophistication.

Situated in the Palugaswewa Divisional Secretariat, the site was identified during a survey covering more than 1,200 hectares of the Malwathu Oya basin. The survey revealed a wide span of human activity, from prehistoric Stone Age tool use to historical irrigation works. However, its most significant discovery is a cluster of 28 individual burials, highlighting a unique chapter in Sri Lanka’s Early Iron Age.

These burials are not simple excavations in the soil. They are cist burials—stone coffins constructed by fitting rock slabs together in box-like formations. Carbon dating of charred material found inside places them between 520 BCE and 200 BCE, a period when Sri Lanka’s early inhabitants transitioned from nomadic hunting and gathering to stable agricultural settlements.

One of the site’s most remarkable qualities is the ingenuity behind its construction. The people who built these tombs were not merely arranging loose stones; they possessed notable geological and technological skill.

The Quarry Discovery

Archaeologists uncovered an ancient quarry about 400 meters northeast of the burials, providing clear evidence of how the stone slabs were produced. The quarry contains a large boulder marked with deliberate cut lines and conical holes, offering insight into early stone extraction techniques.

High-Tech Tools for 500 BCE

Cutting solid gneiss rock required more than physical strength. The extraction marks show that iron technology was already established. The rock bears signs of metal chisel use, while the conical holes are believed to have been used to temper metal tools during the demanding process of splitting stone.

The builders also demonstrated strong logistical planning. They used four types of rock in constructing the tombs, particularly favoring Biotite-Garnet-Gneiss, which appears in 55 percent of the burials. All materials were sourced within a 1-kilometer radius (0.62 miles), indicating an understanding that transporting heavy slabs over long distances was impractical. Instead, they relied on the geological resources available within their immediate environment.

A Mixed Landscape of History

Although the Iron Age burials are the highlight, Ihala Kalawella Ulpatha represents a stratified record of human activity. The survey identified 27 different sites showcasing a clear sequence of occupation.

Historical Period (Anuradhapura Era):
The region continued to thrive for centuries. Archaeologists discovered remnants of stupas, brick buildings, and a pillar inscription from the reign of King Sena II (846–880 CE), demonstrating the area’s long-term existence.

Prehistoric Period (125,000 – 3,000 BP):
Long before the construction of stone coffins, hunter-gatherers inhabited the area. Evidence includes quartz flakes and cave shelters used by these early groups.

Protohistoric Period (1000 – 500 B.C.):
The builders of the burial site belonged to this era. They introduced iron tools, pottery, and stable village-based livelihoods, marking a pivotal transition in Sri Lanka’s cultural evolution.

References

Jayaratne, D. K. (2016). The archaeological landscape of the early Iron Age burial site: Ihala Kalawella Ulpatha and its environs in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Studies : Annual Research Congress : PGIHS-RC 2017, 296–300.
Jayaratne, D. K. (2024). Diachronic and viewshed analyses on early settlements at Ihala Kalawella Ul patha in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. Tsukuba Geoenvironmental Sciences, 20, 1–13.

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