International Archaeological Project Launches New Excavations to Uncover Secrets of Fallen Kingdom Polonnaruwa
August 01, Colombo (LNW): A large-scale archaeological excavation has begun in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa as part of an international research collaboration seeking to shed new light on the rise, expansion and eventual decline of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest historical kingdoms.
The latest fieldwork forms the fifth phase of an ongoing research programme on the urban evolution of Polonnaruwa, which was launched in 2024. The project is jointly led by the University of Kelaniya and Australia’s La Trobe University, with researchers aiming to deepen understanding of the city’s development through advanced archaeological investigations.
Senior Professor of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya, Prof. Prishantha Gunawardhana, said the initiative is being undertaken with the collaboration of the Department of Archaeology, the Central Cultural Fund, the University of Jaffna and the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology of the University of Kelaniya, bringing together expertise from several leading academic and heritage institutions.
This phase of the project is concentrating on two key locations within the ancient capital. One excavation is centred on the area surrounding the north-eastern gateway of Polonnaruwa’s outer defensive fortifications, while another is being carried out near the historic Lotus Pond situated within the outer city.
Prof. Gunawardhana explained that the selection of these sites followed the results of advanced remote-sensing surveys carried out in recent years. He noted that LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology used during surveys last year identified a number of unusual landscape formations that warranted closer investigation.
According to the professor, researchers detected between 20 and 30 mound-like landforms across the study area, each rising approximately 70 to 80 centimetres above the surrounding ground level. These features are believed to hold valuable archaeological evidence that could provide fresh insights into the layout and development of the ancient urban settlement.
He said one of the principal aims of the current excavations is to determine how these elevated formations are connected to one another and to identify the archaeological remains concealed beneath them. By examining the relationship between these features, researchers hope to reconstruct aspects of Polonnaruwa’s urban landscape that have remained hidden for centuries.
In addition to the work near the outer fortifications, archaeologists are conducting a separate excavation behind Siva Devale No. 2. This investigation is intended to establish the depth of the site’s cultural deposits and develop a scientifically verified chronological sequence based on the material uncovered during the excavation.
Earlier phases of the research have already produced significant discoveries that have reshaped scholarly understanding of the ancient city. Previous excavations revealed that the expansive open space in front of King Parakramabahu’s Royal Palace and Audience Hall was once an elaborate water garden, highlighting the sophisticated urban planning and hydraulic engineering techniques employed during the kingdom’s peak.
Researchers have also used Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and LiDAR technology to identify the buried remains of several ancient ponds concealed beneath the present-day landscape, discoveries that have provided further evidence of the city’s highly advanced water management system.
La Trobe University is providing technical expertise for the project, enabling Sri Lankan researchers to employ modern scientific techniques and cutting-edge survey technology in their study of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The collaboration is expected to generate new archaeological data while contributing to the preservation and interpretation of one of South Asia’s most important ancient urban centres.
Polonnaruwa, recognised as Sri Lanka’s second ancient capital, served as the seat of the kingdom from 1070 to 1215 AD. The city’s inner precinct contains some of the island’s most remarkable archaeological monuments, including architectural and engineering achievements associated with renowned rulers such as King Vijayabahu I, King Parakramabahu the Great and King Nissanka Malla, whose reigns shaped one of the most prosperous periods in Sri Lanka’s history.
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