Heritage

Kudumbimalai Terracotta Archaeological Site (කුඩුම්බිමලෛ ටෙරාකොටා පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන් ස්ථානය)

Located at the foot of Kudumbimalai Hill near Adikandukulama Tank, this site contains Maradanmaduwa–Tabbowa culture terracotta artifacts scattered by agricultural development. Findings include soot-covered clay pipes, probable kilns, and broken figurines representing cobras (nāga), human male and female forms, and birds.

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The Paddy Land with Terracotta Artifacts is located in Kudumbimalai village at the foot of Kudumbimalai Hill,, within the Kudumbimalai (209-D) Grāma Niladhāri Division of the Kōralai Pattu South Divisional Secretariat in Kiran.

Access Route

From Kiran Junction, travel via Pulipanchakal along Kulawadi Road, passing the 5th Post Junction (Anjanakatte). Turn right at Alioluwa Junction and continue to Kudumbimalai village. From near the preschool in the village, proceed approximately 200 meters along the by-road to the left to reach the paddy field.

Historical Background

Terracotta objects are fired-clay artifacts that provide insights into popular cultural beliefs during the Anuradhapura period. Associated with folk beliefs maintained across various regions of Sri Lanka from the 1st century CE to the 11th century CE, terracotta figurines, particularly those depicting animals, were used in ritual practices associated with agricultural activities. As these terracotta creations were broken apart after being used in rituals and worship, they are generally found as fragmented pieces. Archaeologists consider these terracotta artifacts to belong to the Maradanmaduwa–Tabbowa culture.

Site Location and Nature of Archaeological Evidence

The site containing the terracotta artifacts is located within a paddy field situated near the Adikandukulama Tank to the north and at the foot of Kudumbimalai Hill to the south. During the development of the paddy field, terracotta artifacts and fragments that had been buried underground became scattered across the surface of the field.

The archaeological evidence includes terracotta sculptures and soot-covered clay pipe fragments that are likely to have been associated with kilns or hearths. There are also structures firmly set into the ground, with only small portions exposed above the surface, which are presumed to be kilns or ovens. The terracotta sculptures discovered at the site include depictions of cobras or nāga forms, male and female figures, and parts of bird figures.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

Latitude: 7° 50′ 22.9″ N
Longitude: 81° 22′ 18.8″ E

References

Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka, p. 350-351

Also See

Map of the Kudumbimalai Terracotta Archaeological Site

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Traveling to the Kudumbimalai Terracotta Archaeological Site

Route from Batticaloa to Kudumbimalai Terracotta Archaeological Site

Through: Chenkaladi – Kiran
Distance: 49 km
Travel time: 1.30 hours
Driving directions: see on Google Maps

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Kudumbimalai Terracotta Archaeological Site (කුඩුම්බිමලෛ ටෙරාකොටා පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන් ස්ථානය)
Located at the foot of Kudumbimalai Hill near Adikandukulama Tank, this site contains Maradanmaduwa–Tabbowa culture terracotta artifacts scattered by agricultural development. Findings include soot-covered clay pipes, probable kilns, and broken figurines representing cobras (nāga), human male and female forms, and birds. […]
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