Established in 1973 as a sub Department of History, the Department of Archaeology became a fully-fledged department of study with the initiative of Prof. Abhya Aryasinghe in 1977. Compared with the Department of Archaeology in other Universities: it has the largest number of undergraduates offering Archeology as a subject for their first degree. From the very inception of the Cultural Triangle project of the Government of Sri Lanka funded by the UNESCO, the implementation of the Sigiriya – Dambulla project was entrusted to this Department. It also maintains a close relationship with the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, an Affiliate Institute of the University.

In 1985, the Departmental museum was established to study and to store the artifacts that founded from academic excavations and explorations. In 1986 the PGIAR was established for postgraduates in Archaeology to study moreover when any completed their first degree. Concern about the past, the Department of Archaeology had a great history with eight number of heads of Department from 1976 to present.

1. Emeritus Professor Senaka Bandaranayake
2. Emeritus Professor A.A.D Amaraekara
3. Senior Professor Anura Mantunga
4. Senior Professor Prishantha Gunawardhana
5. Senior Professor Malinga Amrasinghe
6. Professor Uda Hettige
7. Dr.Mangala Katugampola
8. Dr.Sriyani Hathurusinghe

Research activities of the Department are incorporated in papers presented at national and international conference and symposia.  Within the past few years, the Department of Archaeology expanded with the addition of new infrastructure, which has significantly contributed to its academic and professional development.  It house an archaeological museum, a small library, a photographic and planning unit as well as a conservation laboratory.

Undergraduates reading for the B.A. Honors Degree in Archaeology, are not only trained in field techniques and laboratory work, but also directed to conduct independent research studies. The Department introduced two new degree programs recently B.A degree program in Tourism and Cultural Management which commenced in 2007 and B.A degree program in Anthropology which initiated in 2008. The B.A Honours degree apart of Anthropology programs in these disciplines commenced in 2009.

In addition to the undergraduates programs, the Department offers postgraduate qualifications including MA, MSSc, MPhill and Phd. As part of its academic activities, the Department of Archaeology published time to time research journals: Archaeologia: Journal of Archaeology, Puranaya, archaeology Zeylanica, Sarasavi, Chiranthana and Wasunadara.