Low Density Urbanism in Medieval Sri Lanka: Exploring the hinterland of Polonnaruva

Manuel, M.J.; Gunawardana, P.; Namalgamuwa, H.; Coningham, R.A.E.; Davis, C.E.; Krishnan, K.; Senanayake, J.; Rammungoda, U.R.

Abstract

A hinterland survey at Polonnaruva has revealed that a planned pluralistic landscape developed during the latter part of the Early Medieval period (A.D. 600-1200). This represents a significant shift in settlement pattern from the organically derived model of Buddhist Temporalities found at the antecedent capital, Anuradhapura. In comparison, settlements around Polonnaruva were larger, longer-lived and evenly distributed. This coincided with a major island-wide shift towards centralization thought to be associated with experimentation with a new model of royal control. Yet, both systems can be described as instances of low density urbanism, suggesting that there was greater variation within this settlement genre than previously anticipated.

Citation

Manuel, M., Gunawardana, P., Namalgamuwa, H., Coningham, R., Davis, C., Krishnan, K., …Rammungoda, U. (2021). Low Density Urbanism in Medieval Sri Lanka: Exploring the hinterland of Polonnaruva. Asian Perspectives: The Journal of Archaeology for Asia and the Pacific, 60(2), 248-271. https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2021.0002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 21, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 10, 2021
• Journal: Asian Perspectives
• Print ISSN: 0066-8435
• Electronic ISSN: 1535-8283
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 248-271
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2021.0002
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1255629