Detection and Management of Archaeological Sites in Sri Lanka: Potential Role of Space Technology Applications

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1 Huangshan Dialogue on UNESCO-Designated Places and Sustainable Development May 25-30, 2014, Huangshan, China Detection and Management of Archaeological Sites in Sri Lanka: Potential Role of Space Technology Applications by Eng. Sanath Panawennage & Dr. Senarath Dissanayake

2 Sri Lanka: Country Profile

3 Area : 65,525 km 2 Population : 21 million Capitol: Colombo GDP: US$ 80 billion

4 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights An estimated 250,000 Archeological Sites scattered in 65,525 km2 Highest Site-Density in the world 2558 years of uninterrupted written history Kingdom or the Capitol City of the country shifting to 9 different places 800,000 years of history evidenced by Archaeological Research World s oldest skeleton remains of modern man (Homo- Sapien Sapien) 47,000 years old, Fa-Hian cave, Bandaragama Archaeological Structures and Features 2 nd and 3 rd tallest multi-storied buildings of the Ancient World World s tallest brick structure

5 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights contd. Irrigation Engineering Heritage Wewa - the backbone of the civilization An advanced hydrological, irrigation, and agricultural eco-system built around a man-made reservoir Employed advanced hydrological techniques such as the world s first sluice gate as early as 2 nd Century BC Around 40 major Wewas and 34,000 small village wewas still functioning and in use each wewa signifying a settlement and a Buddhist Monastry 90% of them built by 200 AD World s oldest tree in the recorded history

6 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights An estimated 250,000 Archeological Sites scattered within 65,525 km2 Highest Archaeological Site-Density in the world

7 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights Nine Ancient Capitol Cities/Kingdoms during the period of written history of the country between 6 th Century BC and 19 th Century AD

8 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights World s tallest brick-built Structure: Jetawana Stupa, WH site Anuradhapura 120 meters (420 feet) in height Built in the4th Century AD

9 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights Lowamahapaya - WH site, Anuradhapura 2 nd Century BC 9 storied World s tallest multi-storied Building at that time (Third tallest multi-storied building in the Ancient World) Baddhasima Prasadaya WH Site, Polonnaruwa 12 storied (2 nd tallest multi-storied building in the Ancient World)

10 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights World s Oldest Tree Recorded in History: Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura, planted by King Devanampiyatissa in the 3 rd Century BC

11 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights Irrigation Engineering Heritage Wewa - the backbone of the civilization: An advanced hydrological, irrigation, and agricultural eco-system built around a man-made reservoir Employed advanced hydrological techniques such as world s first sluice gate as early as 2 nd Century BC Around 48 major wewas and 34,000 small village wewas functioning and in use todate each wewa signifying an early settlement and a Buddhist Monastry 90% of them built by 200 AD

12 Parakrama Samudra

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16 Sri Lanka: Some Archaeological Highlights Irrigation Engineering Heritage: Cascaded Wewas (Reserviors) (wewas

17 World s First Sluice Gates: Arrangement of the Bisokotuwa in relation to the inlet and outlet

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22 World Heritage sites There are six Cultural World Heritage sites declared by the UNESCO- WH Centre Sacred City of Anuradhapura (3 rd Century BC to 10 th Century AD) WH inscribed n 1982 Golden Temple of Dambulla (2 nd century BC to 18 th century AD) WH inscribed n 1991 Ancient Fortress Palace of Sigiriya (5 th century AD) - WH inscribed n 1982 Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (11 th to 13 th century AD) - WH inscribed n 1982 Sacred City of Kandy (16 th century to 1815 AD) - WH inscribed n 1988 Old town of Galle and its Fortifications (16 th to 18 th century AD) - WH inscribed n 1988

23 Anuradhapura Ancient City Capitol of Sri Lanka from 6 BC to 11 AD Inspired by Buddhism in 3 BC. Developed City and Monastic Architecture, Art and Sculptures Ruwanweliseya Stupa 2 nd Century BC

24 Anuradhapura Ancient City Mirisawetiya Stupa 2 nd Century BC

25 Anuradhapura Ancient City Sri Maha Bodhi Tree

26 Anuradhapura Ancient City Jethawanarama Stupa

27 Anuradhapura Ancient City Buddha Image (Samadhi)

28 A series of Caves With paintings and sculptures Dambulla Cave Temple

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30 Sigiriya Ancient City While Anuradhapura remained the capitol, one ruler established his palace on top of this mountain (200 meters) in the 5th century AD.

31 Sigiriya Ancient City Sigiriya Pleasure Garden

32 Sigiriya Ancient City Entrance

33 Sigiriya Ancient City Lively frescoes of women

34 1 c, u,a Whk 2' 1 c, u,la 2' 2 c, u,a 3 f.os.= js,la ( c,u,a Whk 4 f.os.= js,la ( rkauiq Whk

35 wgmgzguz fmdl=k

36 Polonnaruwa Ancient City Administrative Capital was shifted to Polonnaruva in the 11th Century AD. City planning and architecture were dominated by Buddhist Monasteries

37 Polonnaruwa Ancient City Gal Vihara

38 Polonnaruwa Ancient City Lankatilake Vihara (Image House) Lotus Pond

39 Polonnaruwa Ancient City Thiwanka pilimage (Image House) Paintings at Thiwanka Pilimage

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41 Kandy Sacred City Last Capital before British captured the control of the country in Architecture is still surviving in their full form. Timber was the principal material of construction.

42 Kandy Sacred City

43 Kandy Sacred City Ancient King s Palace

44 Kandy Sacred City Painted Wood Carvings at Temple of Tooth Relic

45 Kandy Sacred City Royal Assembly Hall

46 Kandy Sacred City Temple Procession (Kandy Perahara)

47 Galle Ancient City and Fort Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese. Dutch redeveloped it. British also made improvements. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South- East Asia.

48 Galle Ancient City and Fort

49 Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka: Major functions The regular maintenance and security of the Antiquities in site, museums, archaeological reserves and protected monuments. Exploration of ancient sites and the administration of the Antiquities Ordinance The excavation of ancient sites and conduct of research into material culture of the historical and pre-historic periods. Conservation and layout of ancient monuments and environs. Conservation of wall paintings and sculpture. Research relating to inscriptions, their translation and publications.

50 Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka: Activities Exploration and Documentation Excavation and Museums Architectural Conservation Chemical Conservation Maintenance Epigraphy and Numismatics Promotion

51 Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT) - Collaborating with the Department of Archaeology on Space Technology Applications for Management of Cultural Heritage The Public Agency in Sri Lanka legislatively mandated for Space Technology Applications A Public Research Institute for R&D, Training and Technological Services specializing in the areas of Space Technology Applications, Electronics, Telecommunication, IT and Robotics Collaborative Research on Space Technology Applications Coordinates/Promotes Inter-agency cooperation in Space Technology Applications Training Is the National Focal Point on Space Technology Applications for International and Regional fora including UNESCAP, UNOOSA, CSSTEAP and APRSAF

52 Challenges for Archaeology in Sri Lanka: Scope for Space Technology Interventions Map of identified archaeological sites: Only 20, 000 identified so far out of a statistically estimated total of 250,000.

53 Challenges for Archaeology in Sri Lanka: Scope for Space Technology Interventions Preliminary detection of hitherto unidentified sites Only 20,000 sites out of an estimated total of 250,000 identified so far: 230,000 sites yet to be identified! Further archaeological analysis of the environment surrounding identified sites Preparation of detailed Archaeological Maps of Identified sites Including demarcation of boundaries Archaeological Impact Assessment Management of Buffer Zones Issues of encroaching Infrastructure and Urbanization

54 Challenges for Archaeology in Sri Lanka: Scope for Space Technology Interventions Mapping and Inventorisation of Archaeological sites Monitoring of archaeological sites Use of time series analysis of satellite imagery for early detection of threats of encroachment, urbanization, infrastructure development Assessment of potential risk due to due to natural disasters Disaster response and recovery Detection of destruction and theft of Antiquities

55 Potential techniques for being used in conjunction with appropriate Space Technology based tools Crop Marks (Tonal variation of the vegetation overgrown on varying structural features lying underneath) Shadow Marks Soil Marks Any other space technology based techniques/tools successfully tested elsewhere in the world

56 Need for International Cooperation Cultural Heritage an important area for international cooperation in space technology applications for common and mutual benefit Active pursuance of the possibility of appropriately accommodating the relevant aspects of cooperation in space technology applications, that are desired in cultural heritage management, into the existing international space technology cooperation agreements on such other globally relevant areas such as disaster management Active Research into the possibility of adapting those Space Technology Applications (Remote Sensing, GIS, GNSS and Satellite Communication Applications) which are already developed and established in other fields of activity such as land use management, environmental monitoring, urban development, agriculture, surface navigation etc.

57 Thank You