Pre Historic Burial Sites of Sri Lanka

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Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Burial Site made a pubic attraction in 2017 — Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Burial Site made a public attraction in 2017
photo credits : www.lakdana.lk

Burials constructed using large slabs, commonly known as ‘megalithic,’ are recognized as a distinctive cultural trait of Sri Lanka’s protohistoric era. These burials are often linked to rudimentary forms of religious practices among early farming communities, possibly involving ancestral veneration. The documentation of megalithic burials dates back to the late 19th century, with R.W. Levers’ report on the Gurugalhinna site in 1889 and H. Nevil’s discovery of urn burials in 1887. Subsequent archaeological endeavours, including excavations initiated by Hocart at Pomparippu in 1923-24 and extensive investigations led by S. Paranavithana in 1956-57, have revealed over 116 cemeteries representing various burial traditions across Sri Lanka (Siriwardana et al., 2021).

These studies have significantly enriched our understanding of Sri Lankan protohistory. Megalithic burials in Sri Lanka predominantly date from 800 BCE to 50 CE. Stone or slab-constructed burial sites are commonly found in the dry zone, with only rare occurrences in the intermediate and wet zones. The grave goods associated with these burials align with the introduction of iron technology to Sri Lanka from India. The onset of the Iron Age in Sri Lanka, dated to 900-600 BCE, brought forth distinct features including the adoption of iron technology, unique pottery styles such as the notable Sri Lankan variants of Black and Red Ware (BRW), the presence of horses, domesticated cattle, and the cultivation of paddy. These developments laid the groundwork for the hydraulic civilization that would emerge in the country(Siriwardana et al., 2021).

The prehistoric era of Sri Lanka’s culture is divided into two distinct types based on the funeral practices employed by its inhabitants.

Clay Cist Culture
Megalithic Culture

Clay Cist Culture

The Clay Cist Culture, characterized by the absence of metal objects or Black and Red Ware (BRW) pottery, is considered unique to Sri Lanka. These burials are primarily found in the humid and intermediate zones of the island. The first recorded instance of this burial type occurred in 1952 when Deraniyagala documented it in Bandattara, Matara. However, at that time, it was not identified as a cemetery.

In 1982, an archaeological excavation conducted at the Ibbankatua cemetery initially identified the site as a firepit. However, further investigation revealed carnelian beads within the pit, leading to its reclassification as a burial site. Charcoal samples taken from the pit were dated to 720 BC, providing insights into its antiquity.

Some of the other Clay Cist Burial Sites across Sri Lanka have been dated through carbon dating:

Near Attanagalla Warana Cave, Ogodapola Burial Ground: Dated to 250 BCE
Ruwanwella, Nikawalamulla Burial Ground: Dated to 400 BCE
Ambilipitiya Ranchamadama Burial Ground: Dated to 1359 BCE
Diyatalawa Haldummulla Burial Ground: Dated to 1750 BCE
Beragala Kalupahanawatta Burial Ground: Dated to 2400 BCE
Halavata Dummalasuriya Burial Ground: Dated to 350 CE

Megalithic Culture

This culture was one that spread all over the world. It has spread in many regions of the world, including Northern Europe, Southeast and South Asia. Megalithic culture can be seen in dry zone and intermediate zone.

In Sri Lanka, megalithic burials dominate among the prehistoric interments discovered, contrasting with the previously described clay canoe burials. Termed “Megalithic” due to their utilization of stone materials, these burials are crafted with stone slabs, pillars, and blocks. Various forms of megalithic burials exist as below;

Cist Burials
Cairn Heap Burials
Clay Urn Burials
Alignment Burials
Menhir Burials
Delmenoid Burials
Stone Circle Burials
Standing Slab with Cairn Burials

Cist Burials

This is the most common type of megalithic burial in Sri Lanka. These burials are constructed by arranging four stone slabs vertically to create a box-like structure. The resulting stone box is typically arranged in a square or rectangular shape, while some cist burials are also fashioned in the shape of a swastika. Within the compartment, human bones or cremated ashes are placed inside clay pots, alongside the deceased’s tools, arrowheads, and other belongings. The pots are positioned within the tomb and then covered with a large stone slab.

Cairn Heap Burials

Another distinctive type of burial found during prehistoric times in this country is the Cairn Heap Burials, also known as stone mound burials. These graves are fashioned by stacking stones in a conical shape. During the construction of these burial sites, the cremated remains of the deceased, along with any tools and ornaments used by them, are placed in clay pots and buried. Stones are then piled on top of the pots to form a heap, creating the burial mound.

Such burials are currently reported in Sri Lanka from Kokebe near Kahatagasdigiliya, Nikawewa (Parangiyawadiya) near Horowpathana, Moragodaya, Oluwewa, Kanagaha Ulpatha, Habarattawala, Mamaduwa, Welanwitha, Goraka Palassa and Alapatwewa.

Clay Urn Burials

Another prevalent burial practice among prehistoric communities involves burying ashes or bones in clay urns. In this method, the cremated remains or bones of the deceased are placed within a large urn. These burial urns exhibit various designs, with some featuring a pointed bottom while others have a rounded bottom.

In Sri Lanka, such burials have been reported from Kataragama Menik Ganga, Kalu Ganga Duwegama, Thekkam, Karambankulama, Makewita, Kokebe, Ibbankatuwa, Tammannagodella, Galatara, Pomparippu, Andarawewa Aneikoddai, Yan Oya etc.

Alignment Burials

The singular example of this type of burial discovered in Sri Lanka is located at the Kokebe megalithic burial site, near Kahatagasdigiliya. Burial Urns are placed on either side of a row of vertically placed stone slabs, approximately one meter in height, arranged horizontally in a row spanning about 15 meters. This distinctive burial method stands as a rarity in Sri Lanka’s archaeological record. In 2016, a portion of this cemetery was excavated and dated to around 770 BC.

Menhir Burials

Menhir Burials represent a rare and distinctive burial type observed in Sri Lanka. As per current findings, the sole known cemetery of this nature is situated at Tammannagodella along the Medawachchiya – Horowpotana road. This unique cemetery features a large stone pillar erected upright, surrounded by buried clay urns containing the remains of the deceased. The burial site was excavated by Ranjith Dissanayake in 2013; however, it has since been destroyed. Despite its destruction, the scattered stone fragments indicate its likely classification as a Menhir Burial site.

Delmenoid Burials

Delmenoid Burials represent another form of prehistoric burial practised in Sri Lanka for funeral rites. Similar to Cist Burials in construction, they differ in that they resemble stone caves with large vertical slabs of stone erected above the ground.

Clay urns are interred within these cave-like structures, as evidenced by findings in Padavigampola, near Rambukkana. Smaller sites resembling these burials are also discovered in the Vahalkada area near Horowpathana and at Galedakatuwa near Kahatagasdigiliya.

What distinguishes these burials is the option for an open or closed front. Closed burials feature either a circular hole or a rectangular window cut into the front stone slab. Unfortunately, many of these burial sites in Sri Lanka have been severely damaged by treasure hunters, rendering their recognition difficult.

Stone Circle Burials

Another significant type of megalithic burial found in Sri Lanka is Stone Circle Burials. These burials involve the construction of a Cist Cemetery, with stone blocks arranged to encircle the cemetery in one or two concentric circles.

One such burial site has been discovered in the Vavuniya Mamaduwa area. Additionally, similar burials have been identified in Palukatiwewa (Walahaviddawewa), located near Kahatagasdigiliya. Furthermore, Stone Circle Burials have been reported from various other locations including Moragodaya, Oluwewa, Gorakapalassa, Nilagiri Saya, Kovilthanna, Settiwatta, and Kalkane Palama.

Standing Slab with Cairn Burials

This type of tomb is constructed by excavating a square pit, with one wall aligned parallel to a straight stone slab. The remaining walls are constructed using small stones or rubble. The upright stone slab is then raised above the ground level. Within the chamber, no items are deposited directly; instead, objects such as pots are placed on the rubble walls surrounding the chamber. One such grave was unearthed in Tammannagodella, Yan Oya. Additionally, an unidentified burial type was discovered at this site, characterized by a large circular stone cut with extensive use of metal tools.

(Irangani, 2022)

Some Pre Historic Burial Sites in Sri Lanka

Agbopura Megalithic Burial Site (අග්බෝපුර මෙගලිතික සුසාන භූමිය)
The Megalithic Burial Ground at Agbopura in Vavuniya district was first discovered in 1970s and it was reported at almost 100 burials have been discovered spread over an area of 25 acres.
Ampara Bandaraduwa Megalithic Burial Site (අම්පාර බණ්ඩාරදූව මෙගලිතික සුසාන භූමිය)
The Bandaraduwa Megalithic Cemetery is an ancient pre-historic burial site located in the village of Bandaraduwa in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. This historical site is characterized by a significant number of cist burials.
Anaikoddai Megalithic Burial Grounds in Jaffna
Megalithic Burial Grounds of Anaikoddai lies close the inner most point of the bay, about 500 meters inwards. An archaeological survey has been carried out in this to study early settlements in the 1980.
Belanbandi Palassa Mesolithic Site (බෙල්ලන්බැඳි පැලැස්ස)
Belanbandi Palassa is one of the most important Mesolithic sites in Sri Lanka and has yielded a valuable collection of human skeletal remains popularly known as Balangoda Man. The site, discovered by Arthur Delgoda of Morahala, was excavated over several seasons in the late 1950s and early 1960s by P.E.P.…
Gurugalhinna Megalithic Burial Grounds
Gurugalhinna Megalithic Cemetery was initially uncovered and examined in 1896 by R. W. Levers. Subsequently, in the 1970s, Raja De Silva from the Department of Archaeology led excavations at Gurugalhinna. However, the burials at the site have not been scientifically dated.
Haldummulla Prehistoric Canoe Burial Site (හල්දුමුල්ල ආදී මානව සුසාන භූමිය)
A pre historic burial site discovered 2011 which is believed to be dating to 14th century BC. 5 clay burial canoes were discovered on the narrow access road to of Hadummulla Tamil School.
Hambantota Mahagalwewa Megalithic Burial Site (හම්බන්තොට මහගල්වැව මෙගලිතික සුසාන භූමිය)
During excavations of Mahagalwewa Megalithic Cemetery, a total of cist 19 burial sites were uncovered. Out of the discovered cist burials, 3 were excavated. In addition to the cist burials, Clay Urn burials similar to the Pomporippu site were discovered outside the cist burials. Pieces of clay pots, glass beads,…
Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Burial Site (ඉබ්බන්කටුව ප්‍රාග්-ඓතිහාසික සුසාන භූමිය)
Ibbankatuwa is an early Iron Age burial ground that has been dated to 750 BC to 400 BC which lies few kilometers before the Dambulla town on the Kurunegala-Dambulla Road.
Kathiraveli Prehistoric Burial and Grounds & Archaeological Site (කදිරවේලි ආදී මානව සුසාන භූමිය)
Megalithic urn burials have been excavated at Kathiraveli Prehistoric Burial Grounds site. This included black and red ware pottery tentatively dated to the 3rd century BCE and iron tools.
Kokebe Megalithic Burial Grounds in Yan Oya Valley (කොක්ඇබේ මෙගලිතික සුසාන භූමිය)
Kokebe is a remote village in the Kahatagasdigiliya Divisional Secretariat Division in the Anuradhapura District. Konwewa is the nearest village to Kokebe.
Meegahahena Burial Grounds (මීගහහේන ප්‍රාග් ඓතිහාසික සුසාන භූමිය)
Meegahahena burial grounds spans over 18 acres dating back to 2800 years. Archaeologists believe that there could be over 40,000 tombstones in this Meegahahena burial grounds.
Minuwangoda Dewalapola Prehistoric Canoe Burial Site (මිනුවන්ගොඩ දෙවලපොල ආදී මානව සුසාන භූමිය)
The Prehistoric Burial Site of Dewalapola in Minuwangoda was discovered in 2016 on the premises of Dewalapola Ananda Maha Vidyalaya. Two clay burial canoes have been discovered on the access path to the school. The excavation took place based on a belief among the locals regarding an ancient burial ground…
Pallemalala Prehistoric Burial Grounds and Habitation Floor (පල්ලෙමලල ප්‍රාග් ඓතිහාසික කැනීම් ස්ථානය)
Pallemalala site, which may roughly be dated to about 4000 B.C. has furnished archaeologists with sufficient material to undertake a somewhat detailed study of this type of man and his culture.
Pomparippu Ancient Burial Site (පොම්පරිප්පු ආදී මානව සුසාන භූමිය)
Pomparippu Ancient Burial Site covers about 3-4 acres of land and may contain about 8000 or so burials containing the remains of 10,000 – 12,000 people.
Ranchamadama Prehistoric Canoe Burial Site (රංචමඩම ආදී මානව සුසාන භූමිය)
A pre historic burial site discovered in the early 2000’s which has been dated to 14th century BC. 6 clay burial canoes and 2 burial pits were discovered by the Archaeologists in 2007.
Siyambaladamana Megalithic Burial Site in Anuradhapura District
Siyambaladamana Megalithic Burial Site is located in Siyambaladamana village in No. 598 Madawala Grama Sevaka division of Palugaswewa Regional Secretariat Dvision in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province. This burial site is well preserved due to its location which has not yet been affected by natural and human activities. There…
Verappitti Buddhist Ruins in the Island of Karaitivu Jaffna (යාපනය කරතිවූ දුපතේ වෙහෙරපිටිට් පිහිටි නටබුන් භූමිය)
Dr. Ragupathi records Verappitti site as a mound of considerable size facing the sea in an area of about 5 acres. He records chiselled corel stones still having traces of lime plaster on them, semi-circular stepping stones (possibly an Moonstone) made out of Jaffna limestone, stones with sockets which was…
Wadamunai (Wadamune) Megalithic Burial Site in Maduru Oya Valley
In this Wadamunai (Wadamune) Megalithic Cemetery, scattered across the landscape, lie between 15 to 20 graves. Unfortunately, the peaceful serenity of these resting places has been disrupted by thorn bushes, which have taken root amidst many of the tombs. Adding to the desecration, some graves have fallen victim to the…
Yapahuwa Gal Sohon Kanatta Megalithic Burial Site (යාපහුව ගල් සොහොන් කනත්ත මෙගලිතික ආදි මානව සුසාන භූමිය)
The prehistoric and historic heritage in the surrounding area of Yapahuwa has been preserved in the stone caves, rock shelters, inscriptions, graves and other ruins.. This rather unknown stone cist burial site in Yapahuwa called “Gal Sohon Kanatta” (stone tomb cemetery) by locals lies just 720 meters south to the…

References

Siriwardana, T.M. et al. (2021) ‘Walking in the Sun’s and Moon’s paths: Astronomical orientations of the megalithic burials of Palippotana, Sri Lanka’, Ancient Ceylon : Journal of the Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka, 27, pp. 111–126.
Irangani, K.A.T. (2022) ‘ලංකාවේ පූර්ව ඓතිහාසික යුගයේ අභිචාර හා සුසාන චාරිත‍්‍ර’, භූපති :ශාස්ත්‍රීය සඟරාව , 1(1), pp. 58–69.