This cave is situated on a slightly elevated terrace about 6 metres above the surrounding ground. The drip ledge caved on the brow of the cave roof furnishes a precise indication of the date of early human association with the cave. As a common occurrence on the island, the natural cave shelters with drip ledges are the earliest residential and ritual edifices of the Buddhist monks. These caves can be ascribed to the period between 250 BCE and the beginning of the first millennium CE by Paranavitana. The surface pottery collection consists of BRW shreds and therefore confirms the co-existence of the site with the earliest Buddhist monasteries in or around 250 BCE.
The cave has been used as a rural temple and was abandoned by the present villagers of Mutiyammagama.
References
- Somadeva, R. (2006). Urban Origins in Southern Sri Lanka (Doctoral thesis in archaeology at Uppsala University). Studies in Global Archaeology, Uppsala.
Also See
Map of Nadigamvila Monastery Ruins
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Route from Tissamaharama to Mutiyammagama Ancient Cave |
Through : Distance : 6 km Travel time : 15 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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