Kok Abe Archaeological Site (Sinhala: කොක්ඇබේ පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථානය) is a ruined Buddhist monastery site situated on the wayside of Medawachchiya-Horowpathana road, about 12 km distance from the Horowpothana town.
History
The Early Brahmi Inscriptions discovered from the site indicate that this ancient monastery had been in existence from the pre-Christian era (Paranavitana, 1970). The monastic structures at this place have been built during the early Anuradhapura Period. However, the builder of this monastery is unknown.
Vadakahagala-hinna (Kok-ebe) inscription
Period: 3rd century B.C. -1st century A.D. Script: Early Brahmi Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: (1) Parumaka-shaba-puta upashaka-Rakiya lene (2) agata-anagata- (3) catu-disha-shagasha
Translation: The cave of lay-devotee Raki, son of the chief Saba, [is given] to the Buddhist monks of the four quarters, present and absent.
Citation: Paranavitana, 1970. p.13.
Megalithic burial ground
The remains of a megalithic burial ground have been exposed by archaeologists near the ruined site of the Buddhist monastery (Mendis, 2017).
The site
The excavations done at this site in the 1980s by the Department of Archaeology have exposed the ruins of an ancient Stupa, a Bodhighara, an Asanaghara and other monastic structures. All these monuments have been presently conserved.
References
1) Mendis, T., 2017. New Light to the Proto Historic Iron Age in Sri Lanka. A new excavation of proto history burials site at Kokebe in the North-Central Province. pp.49-70.
2) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscription of Ceylon (Vol. I). Department of Archaeology Ceylon. p.13.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 1 January 2022
