Alakeshwara Archaeological Site (Sinhala: අලකේෂ්වර පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථානය) is situated in Ethul Kotte in Colombo District, Sri Lanka.
History
This ruined site is believed to be either of the palace or mausoleum of Gallant lord Nishshanka Alakeshwara (Manathunga, 2016; Rajapakshe et al., 2018; Wijewardana et al., 2011). The architectural construction of the ruins and the domestic artifacts (such as grinding stones, water filters, etc.) discovered from the exploratory excavations suggest that this site was probably the palace of Alakeshwara (Wijewardana et al., 2011). However, there is no conclusive evidence to recognize the true identity of this place (Rajapakshe et al., 2018).
Ruins
At present, the site contains two building foundations made of cut Kabok (laterite) stones (Rajapakshe et al., 2018). The foundations are unequal in size and have been built close to each other (Wijewardana et al., 2011). Presently, they have been conserved up to a height of about 50 cm (Rajapakshe et al., 2018).
The larger foundation which has a rectangular shape is 41 ft. long and 18.5 ft. wide (Manathunga, 2016; Wijewardana et al., 2011). The smaller foundation is square in shape and has a length and width of 21.5 ft (Wijewardana et al., 2011). The middle portion of both structures is completely filled with the earth (Rajapakshe et al., 2018).
Excavations
The site was taken over as an archaeological reserve by the government in the years of 1937-1938 (Rajapakshe et al., 2018). From an excavation done in 2010, it was identified that this site may have been used as a place related to religious activities (Rajapakshe et al., 2018).
A Kabok foundation, parts of clay lamps, flat clay tiles, and iron nails were unearthed during an excavation done in 2013 (Rajapakshe et al., 2018). They were identified by the scholars as building materials used during the Kotte Period [(1412–1597 A.D.) Rajapakshe et al., 2018].
A protected site
The ruins of Alakeshvara of Ethul Kotte in the Grama Niladhari Division of Ethul Kotte (GND No. 521) in Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte Divisional Secretary’s Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 16 August 2013.
Attribution
1) Alakeshwara Archaeological Site by L Manju is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0References
1) Manathunga, S. B., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Kolamba Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-39-9. pp.87-88.
2) Rajapakshe, S.; Bandara, T. M. C.; Vanninayake, R. M. B. T. A. B. (Editors), 2018. Puravidya Sthana Namavaliya: Kolamba Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Vol. I. Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 978-955-7457-19-2. p.3.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary. No: 1823/73. 16 August 2013. p.5.
4) Wijewardana, A., Thilakawardana, A. E. L., Priyangani, S., 2011. Aithihasika Kotte (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 978-955-9159-69-8. p.15.
2) Rajapakshe, S.; Bandara, T. M. C.; Vanninayake, R. M. B. T. A. B. (Editors), 2018. Puravidya Sthana Namavaliya: Kolamba Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Vol. I. Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 978-955-7457-19-2. p.3.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary. No: 1823/73. 16 August 2013. p.5.
4) Wijewardana, A., Thilakawardana, A. E. L., Priyangani, S., 2011. Aithihasika Kotte (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 978-955-9159-69-8. p.15.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 11 June 2023
