The first field season of the three-year collaborative research project on Polonnaruwa Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Project, conducted collaboratively by the Department of Archaeology of the University of Kelaniya and La Trobe University of Australia, took place from the 4th of February 2024 to the 24th of February 2024 at the ancient citadel of Polonnaruwa.
During the project’s first field season, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Auguring technologies were employed. The GPR data showed information about many widely distributed buildings, furnaces, ponds, and walls in the Central Urban area of the citadel. The auguring examination identified soil layers containing cultural evidence.
Archaeological excavations are planned for next July to learn more about the observed sites. This research was conducted under the direction of Senior Professor and Chair of Archaeology Prishanta Gunawardhana, University of Kelaniya, and Dr. Keir Strickland from La Trobe University in Australia.
A one-day workshop to discuss the results of this research project was also held on the 26th of February 2024 at the Research Center of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Kelaniya. Senior Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardhana, Dr. Keir Strickland, Senior Professor Anura Manatunga, Professor A. G. Amarasinghe, Director of Research Center, and Senior Professor Jagath Weerasinghe addressed in the inauguration session. Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardhana, Dr Keir Strickland, Paul Penzo–Kajewski, Bradley Yon, Senior Lecturer Harendra Lal Namalgamuwa, Senior Lecturer Umanga Rammungoda, Hiruni Pamalka, Jayampath Senanayaka (PGIAR) presented research papers of the results of the project. At the end of the workshop, certificates were awarded to all those who participated in the research project.