Heritage

Manikkapuram St. Peter’s Church Ground Ruins (මානික්කපුරම් ශාන්ත පීතර පල්ලි භූමියේ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)

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The ancient stone slab among Manikkapuram St. Peter's Church Ground Ruins — The ancient stone slab among Manikkapuram St. Peter’s Church Ground RuinsThe ancient stone slab among Manikkapuram St. Peter’s Church Ground Ruins

The Manikkapuram St. Peter’s Church Ground Ruin site, located within St. Peter’s Church grounds, preserves Anuradhapura-period pottery and stone ruins. Notable remains include an ancient stone seat (Gal Asana) repurposed with a cross and scattered pillar fragments. Significant artifacts were lost during church construction near the lagoon-facing area.

The archaeological site located in Panichchankerni, within the Panichchankerni 211-C Grama Niladhari Division of Korale Pattu North (Vakare), preserves evidence of ancient activity associated with the Anuradhapura Period. The remains are situated within the premises of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, near the lagoon-facing area.

Access Route

When traveling from Navaladi along the Trincomalee Road (A15), St. Peter’s Catholic Church is located on the right-hand side upon reaching the Vakare Hospital area. The archaeological remains are found within the church grounds.

Historical Background

Large quantities of ancient pottery fragments and stone slabs have been identified at the site. Based on the carving styles and characteristics observed on the stone slabs, the location has been recognized as a site associated with activities dating to the Anuradhapura Period.

Red ware, black ware, and black-and-red ware pottery fragments are scattered across the land facing the lagoon beyond the premises of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Vakaneri. Evidence suggests that a considerable amount of important archaeological material at the site was unintentionally destroyed during the construction of the church building.

Among the surviving remains is an ancient stone slab, possibly a Gal Asana or stone seat, which has later been carved with a cross and placed upon a brick-built pedestal. In addition, fragments of stone pillars can be observed within the courtyard adjoining the church, indicating the former existence of an ancient structure that has since been destroyed.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

North Latitude: 8° 08′ 11.1″ N
East Longitude: 81° 26′ 09.1″ E

References

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

Also See

Traveling Directions to Manikkapuram St. Peter’s Church Ground Ruins

Route from Trincomalee to Manikkapuram St. Peter’s Church Ground Ruins

Through: Kinniya – Mutur – Serunuwara
Distance: 75 km
Travel time: 1.45 hours
Driving directions : see on Google Maps

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