NO. 48. — 1897.] ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, SIGIRIYA. 101 



Leaving the cleaning out of the pohuna, as most sheltered from 

 the wind, for the last week of the season's work, we pushed past it, 

 skirting the Rock's east edge, and so on southwards, until the entire 

 low-level area lying between the pond and the southernmost verge of 

 the Rock, besides a small slice of the higher section, was completely 

 excavated.* 



This season, as a glance at the " Plan " will show, we had — 

 to drop for a moment into colloquialism — " our work fully 

 cut out," if "the high-level area, which, broadly speaking, 

 occupies the western half of the summit," was to be laid 

 bare before the south-west gale fell on us. 



It is the more pleasing, therefore, to be able to record 

 that (with the exception of a terrace some 70 ft. or so down 

 the west scarp) the task has been thoroughly mastered. 



As far as concerns the citadel that once crowned Sigiri 

 Rock— finis coronat oj)US. It is open to any one now to 

 ascend the Rock with ease and safety, and to follow out on its 

 summit (slopes excluded) the complete plan of a marvellous 

 structure 1,400 years old, yet in outline virtually as perfect 

 as when first laid out. 



I said in 1896 that we hoped " to uncover next year (i.e., 

 1897) on the higher level the chief rooms, for they would 

 naturally be built in the most commanding position." Nor 

 have we been disappointed. 



Starting at half a dozen points, where a step or two barely 

 showing above the debris indicated the probable ascent from 

 the lower to the higher area, and trenching onwards up 

 successive flights of stairs — a score in all, more or less — 

 and along retaining walls, the several parties, working 

 simultaneously from north, south, and east, joined hands 

 ultimately in the large upper apartments situated towards 

 the north-west corner of the Rock. 



The rooms, courtyards, &c, stretch the whole length of the 

 ridge, in gently ascending tiers, from the small chamber 

 directly above the Rock cistern at the south to the pen- 

 ultimate, and uppermost, room near the north end. 



* C. A. S. Journal, vol. XIV., No. 47. 1896, p. 249. 



