No. 58.— 1907.] 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



129 



found at Vessagiriya some years ago,* allude to " Bo Upulvan 

 Kasubgiri Vehera," which the Mahawansa records was built by 

 Kasyapa I. (a.d. 479-497). So that architecture, lithic record, 

 and ancient chronicle unite perfectly in confirming the identifica- 

 tion of this site nearly fifteen centuries old. 



Save perhaps the Toluvila Monastery and the " Buddhist 

 Railing " site near Abhayagiriya Dagaba, these ruins at Vessagiriya 

 are the oldest yet brought to light by the Archaeological Survey at 

 Anuradhapura . 



II. — Polonnaruwa. 



Archaeological work was resumed at Polonnaruwa in June, 

 and vigorously pushed on until the end of September. 



(1) Clearing. 



A gang of Sinhalese continued, and completed, the clearing of 

 the outer rampart of the ancient city, working, from the point 

 reached previously, southwards to its junction with the bund of 

 Topavewa tank, a short distance to the south of the Promontory. 



Subsequently the Sinhalese coolies widened the area already 

 cleared round the " Potgul Vehera " Monastery, a mile to the 

 south, and the ruined vihare (mistermed " Demala Maha Seya ") 

 three and a half miles to the north, of the Promontory besides 

 re-clearing the extensive area embracing the 44 Rankot Vehera," 

 " Jetawanarama," and the 44 KM Vehera." This ground teems 

 with ruins, those near the two large Dagabas being of consider- 

 able size and importance. 



All this preliminary work will greatly aid the regular survey of 

 ancient Polonnaruwa which, upon the representation of the 

 Archaeological Commissioner, has been sanctioned by the Govern- 

 ment, and is in hand. 



(2) Excavations. 



(a) Quadrangle with Ruins. — During June the force was fully 

 occupied in most desirable 44 task work " — clearing away the 

 high debris bank hiding the western wall of the large raised 

 quadrangle on which 44 Thiiparama," 44 Wata-da-ge," and other 

 ruins stand. 



The whole space between the present main road and the high 

 rubble ramp of the quadrangular site was levelled, freed of tree 

 stumps, brickbats, &c, and smoothed. 



The ancient approach to the several shrines by a staircase and 

 entrance portico on the west has thus again been opened up. 



The change in the appearance of the ruins upon the quadrangle, 

 as now viewed from the road, is very marked. 



(b) 44 Potgul Vehera" Monastery. — From July excavations were 

 transferred to the (so-called) 44 Potgul Vehera," a mile or more 

 from the Promontory. This, so far as known, is the only group of 

 ruins to the south of the ancient city. 



* Recently translated and edited by Mr. Wickremasinghe in the 

 Epigraphia Zeylanica, Vol. I., Part I. 



