Traditional Technologies and Arts of Sri Lanka

Traditional Technologies and Arts of Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka, with a recorded history of around 2500 years, showcases traditional technologies developed to address day-to-day issues.
• These technologies, passed down through generations, are unique to Sri Lanka.
• Ancient Lankans created architectural and other works tailored to the environment and culture.
• Studying these creations offers insights into the lives of ancient Lankans.

Water Technology

• Canals, tanks, anicuts, and ponds built by ancient settlers are still visible today, either intact or in ruins.
• These water-related constructions constitute water technology.
• Ancient Lankans possessed expertise in building water-related structures.

Beginning of the Construction of Tanks

• Tanks and anicuts were initially constructed in the dry zone to support agriculture.
• Tank construction saw rapid growth following the arrival of people from India around the 3rd century BC.
• Over the next three centuries, more groups from India arrived and settled.
• Settlements were established in the dry zone due to its plain, fertile land, which was ideal for agriculture.

Construction of Big Tanks

• In the dry zone, which receives rain only during a specific period, storing water became essential.
• People started creating tanks to fulfill the water needs for consumption and agriculture.
• After 3rd century BC, expanding dry zone settlements necessitated increased food production.
• Addressing this, kings constructed giant tanks and linked them with canals for an irrigation system to support paddy cultivation.
• The rise of these is documented in historical records like Mahawamsa.
• The Abhaya Vapi, Gamini Vapi, & Thissa Wewa were constructed during King Pandukabhaya's reign.
• It was King Vasabha 67-111 AD who started constructing more massive tanks.
• Lankans had gained considerable knowledge about irrigation techniques after centuries of building tanks.

The Key Features of a Tank

• The sluice is designed for controlled water release from the dam into canals.
• Most tanks feature two sluices: upper and bottom.
• The Bisokotuwa regulates water release from the tank and is a part of the sluice itself.
• In large tanks with multiple sluices, each has a corresponding Bisokotuwa.
• A breakwater has stones laid on the dam's inner side to protect it from waves, preventing erosion.

Inner Spill and Outer Spill

• The inner spill obtains water for the tank, and has a small pit to collect silt.
• Silt accumulation prevents the water from entering the tank.
• The outer spill discharges excess water and large tanks have two of the outer spills

Technology applied in constructing Canals and Dams

• A bund, called an anicut or dam, diverts water rivers and streams to paddy fields.
• The term "dam" refers to bunds built to retain water.
• Experience in constructing smaller dams led to huge dams being produced.
• Two types of dams exist in ancient Lanka: makeshift and permanent.
• Makeshift dams involve using materials like branches and mud to block water flow.
• Permanent dams are stable, often constructed with durable blocks and sometimes joined to natural rock formations.

Construction of Canals

• King Dathusena built the Jaya Ganga/Yodha Ela canal to transport water, which was 54 miles long and some portions were 40 ft wide.
• Minipe Ela, under King Aggabodhi, transported water from the Mahaweli River.
• These canals demonstrate the skill of construction in the Anuradhapura era.
• Historians document twelve canals built, but the Aalisan or Elahera is the only one named.

Technology applied in constructing Canals and the Challenges confronted

• Ancient Lankans linked tanks and created complex irrigation networks.
• They transported water over miles through canals, from water-rich to water-scarce areas.
• Constructing extremely long canals, like the Jaya Ganga, presented challenges:
  • maintaining accurate measurements with a gradient of about one inch per mile.
  • digging; building bunds.
  • geographical elements.

Requirements for constructing Ponds and Types of Ponds

• Ponds are constructed for drinking purposes, so some have separate ponds for bathing
• Ponds are filled with water through pipes from outside the pond
• 65 ponds were contained in the premises of Abhayagiri temple which was about 500 acres in extent.
• These were made near each other to keep the areas cool.
• For convenience, the ponds are classified on this basis.
• One form is a twin pond or pond with decorative stones.

Technology of Construction of Ponds

• Ponds are created according to plans, dug, and had their walls built
• Water filters were placed in the pond
• For the purpose of constructing square ponds to have a source of rain water
• Underground pipes exist for draining water and preventing it from flooding

Water Gardens

• Water gardens are pleasure gardens with plants, trees and sports activities.
• King Mutaseeva first built these.
• They can be called monastery gardens since its Bhikkus engage in meditation.

Planning Water Gardens and the Technology adopted

• Ranmasu Uyana, with lakes, was to provide water for the Bhikkus.
• System of water pipes would channel water from the lake
• Sigiriya rock also had these

Sigiriya Water Garden

• Sigiriya water garden stood out amongst the other water gardens.
• It was erected in the 5th century AD, with ponds and cabins.

Sigiriya Water Fountains

• Water gardens are constructed on the sides of slopes with ponds.
• This has water and drains
• Water is pushed through the system with pressure
• Maintaining these was important.

Clay Technology

• Clay industry is a very old industry.
• Easily attainable, clay is molded by hand in various civilizations
• Its developed after the invention of homes - and it is used for pots cups vases
• Beauty was added with the addition of patterns and paint
• With the invention of pots a complete transition began.
• A horizontal wooden disc to make these began.
• Process of spinning horizontal wood and molding with hands followed.
• The historical pottery is as old as the prehistory .
• Ancient pottery is now at several places and is under study.

Materials found.

• After making clay they were left in the sun to harden
• Pottery was present in India at that time, when it was transferred to Lanka.
• Pots with pottery bricks and tiles were unearthed
• Findings are still under study.
• The pot can be designed with care. Then heated.

Marking bricks and tiles

• Those who conserved stupas also had to start producing bricks that meet standards
• They built Kilns and constructed bricks

Building Monuments with stones

• The monument of the Abhayagirl dagoba.
• Mahavamsa recorded producers that were involved with the construction of bricks
• The bricks during the Anuradhapura areas had thicker and larger

Method

• Cement was not in use
• Had better water absorption
• Renovation of the jetawan stupa revealed requirements to build new and old. But it was easily replaceable

Production of files

• Production had several things
• Selection of clay
• Firming of clay
• Pouring of clav

Industry

• Metal work existed within the villages, making things like black smiths (kavara)
• There was mention smiths for 'coppers and irons' also
• Objects of iron, gold, bronze, and copper was common and discovered.
• Silver and gold was obtained from inside the country.

Metal Technology

• Excavations revealed metal coins and jewelry from Anuradhapura era
• The goldsmith created plating, objects and iron
• Making tools. agriculture. nails for building

architectural artistic creations

• Close ties between Architecture was influenced by India.
• Most of these creations were after the reign of Dutumegunu
• Creations can be said to be constructed for religion

religious buildings

• Were given a prime location.
• Temple of relic or embank temple

Chetiyagara

• Watadageyas had stone pillars to support the daogba
• They have stone pillars

Bodhigara

• The structure was to protect the Bodhi tree
• Called Bonhigara

Image houses

• They were built to safeguard images of the buddha
• Image houses are a new creation

Temple of the oldest tradition.

• Built according to the Gudhakuti tradition

Devalas

• During Polonnaruwa some devalas were made
• Siva Devala and II had such construction

non religious buildings

• Buildings were made for the king and people and toilets were also part of those constructions

The Vijayaba palace in the building

###Statues in artistic creations.

• Were made to capture math and had some statues of bodhisatvas
• A structure named Dambegoda

###Bodhisathwa statues

• The structure was not that of a person, only an image ###Stone carvings
• Sandakadaopahana a plain stone which can also be carved made at the enters

###Swans and animals

• Were carved with detail to be presented
• Metis were used to create images to be carved out of the statues ###Patngngs
• Pints were made for temple as well, where cave paintings were also common