histoy G-10 E

Fig. 5.4. A few pairs of metal scissors, found in excavations, among the

ruins of the hospital buildings in Alahana Pirivena in Polonnaruwa. These

were used for hospital surgeries.

Minor Industries – Apart from this, making
various jewellery, clay industry, gem industry and
forging industry were under minor industries.
The golden jewellery found in the excavations in
Jethawanaya can be taken as the best example for
the technology of making various jewellery. It is a
part of a pendant as small as a paddy seed. There
had been 21 flowery carvings on it. It may be a
challenge to the modern goldsmith. And also, the
coloured roof tiles discovered in Abhayagiriya
excavations reflect the advancement of the
ancient clay industry in this country.

When we examined the instruments such as
various types of arms and defense items found
so far, it seems that there was a vast advancement
in the forging industry.

5.2.3. Local Rituals

Though Buddhism was famous among people,
at the time, they tended to do other practices
(Yathukarma) too. Performing Poojas for
various provincial gods was prominent among
them. Apart from this, a simple practice called
“Kempahan” was performed to solve day- to-day
problems. What they do normally here is that
performing a Pooja by lighting one votive lamp

or several lamps with a certain oil (Mee

or Sesame). This method was followed

by our ancient people to prevent the

threat of insects to their crops or to

cure some diseases infected to cattle.

In 2009 the archaeologists managed

to find significant information about

the Poojas performed for gods in the

ancient time. They discovered some

ruins of an ancient Devala in the

excavations carried out in the area

named Galpaya in Rathnapura district.

Clay pots were kept upside down in a

circle of about 6 feet diameter. There

were marks of a fire of its inside space.

There were a clay water pot and a jaw of

an ox. The archaeologists were able to find holes

of posts which belonged to a hut which had been

built to cover everything. In later analysis, it was

revealed that the place had been used to perform

‘Kirimadu Shantikarmaya’. It is performed for

cattle’s protection. According to scientific dating,

that Devala had belonged to third century A.D.

Performing the ‘Kirimadu Shantikarmaya’ for

the protection of cattle is done even today in the

provinces of Uva and Sabaragamuwa.

5.2.4. Indigenous Knowledge

Measure and Calculation - There was

knowledge, in our ancient society, relevant to

the fundamentals that existed in the nature by

understanding them from such an old time. One

indicator which shows that there exists scientific

knowledge in a certain society is that there is a

methodology to measure the physical situations

which belong to the nature. Our ancient

measurements can be introduced as examples

for them.

Measuring the space - Our ancient people needed

to measure the space when they used land for

farming. Therefore, suitable measurements for

that were prepared with the help of farming.