Archaeology Chief Warns Against ‘Treasure Hunting’ Myths Fueling Illegal Excavations
May 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s top archaeology official has raised concerns over a growing number of unlawful excavations taking place at historically significant sites, warning that false beliefs surrounding hidden treasure continue to drive the destruction of valuable heritage locations.
Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Senarath Wickramasinghe, revealed that authorities have already recorded more than 100 incidents of illegal digging at archaeological sites during the first part of this year alone.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, he said many of those involved appear to be motivated by longstanding myths claiming that ancient kings and wealthy individuals buried gold and valuables underground for future generations to recover.
However, he stressed that archaeological research conducted over the years has found no evidence to support such beliefs.
According to Wickramasinghe, popular folklore surrounding so-called hidden treasure sites — often referred to locally through stories connected to “Nidan” legends — has led many people to wrongly interpret ancient structures, stone pillars and ruins as signs of buried wealth.
He explained that these myths continue to encourage unauthorised excavations that damage irreplaceable historical evidence and destroy parts of the country’s cultural heritage before proper scientific studies can be carried out.
The Director General noted that stronger public awareness is just as important as legal enforcement in preventing such activities, arguing that many people still fail to understand the difference between valuable archaeological artefacts and imagined treasure.
He pointed out that items discovered during legitimate excavations are historically significant objects that help researchers understand Sri Lanka’s ancient civilisation, rather than caches of hidden riches.
Officials also warned that illegal digging not only damages archaeological sites permanently but can also lead to the loss of important information about ancient settlements, religious centres and trade routes that form part of the country’s historical record.
The Department has meanwhile urged the public to report suspicious excavation activities near protected heritage sites as authorities step up monitoring efforts in several regions.
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