Fig 1
Fig 1
Previous scientific analyses, such as by Ardika (1993), Gogte (1997) and Krishnan & Coningham (1995), have suggested significant similarities between sherds of Rouletted ware from multiple south Asian Early Historic sites (c. 500 BC - 500 AD), with the theory of a single geological source for its production. The present research agrees with this hypothesis and has expanded the analysis to include other associated wares from Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) - Grey ware, Arikamedu Type 10, Arikamedu Type 18 and Omphalos ware. A selection of these sherds from a number of south Asian sites have been analysed chemically using ICP-AES (Fig 2) and has demonstrated clear similarities between all of these wares suggesting a single geological source for their production. This study incorporates a temporal perspective from the recent excavations at Anuradhapura (Coningham 1999) and a spatial viewpoint by including the examination of sherds from a variety of sites, including Arikamedu, Alagankulam, Vaddamanu, Kopbal (India), Kantarodai and Mantai (Sri Lanka). This data can be used to infer the organisation of ceramic production at Anuradhapura and how this develops over time. By utilising Costin and Hagstrum's model (1995) as a basis and applying it to the data from Anuradhapura aids our understanding of Sri Lankan society during the Early Historic period.
Fig 2
Ardika, I.W., P.S. Bellwood, R. A. Eggleton and D.J. Ellis.1993. A single source for South Asian export-quality Rouletted Ware. Man and Environment 18(1): 101-109.
Costin, C.L. and M. Hagstrum. 1995. Standardization, Labour Investment, Skill, and the organization of Ceramic Production in Late Prehispanic Highland Peru. American Antiquity 60 (4): 619-639.
Gogte, V.D. 1997. The Chandraketugahr-Tamluk region of Bengal: Source of the Early Historic Rouletted Ware from India and Southeast Asia. Man and Environment 22(1): 69-85.
Coningham, R.A.E. 1999. Anuradhapura: The British-Sri Lankan Excavations at Anuradhapura Salgaha Watta 2. Volume 1: The Site. BAR (International Series) 824. Archaeopress: Oxford.
Krishnan, K. and R.A.E. Coningham 1995. Microstructural Analysis of samples of Rouletted Ware and associated pottery from Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. South Asian Archaeology, 1995, Proceedings of the 13th International conference of the European Association of South Asian Archaeologists Vol. 2: 925-937 edited by Raymond Allchin and Bridget Allchin
