No. 63.— 1910.] 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
49 
AncH^OLoaiCAL Survey, 1909. 
The Council has secured from the Archaeological Commissioner 
a brief summary of the operations of the ArchaBological Survey 
during 1909. 
A much -needed increase to the Archaeological vote, under the 
sub -heads of ** Labour " and '* Preservation of Ancient Monu- 
ments," sanctioned from 1909, has permitted of field operations 
being conducted with redoubled vigour. No previous year in the 
life of the Archaeological Survey has witnessed equal progress, 
especially at Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya. 
I. — AnurAdhapura. • 
1. — Clearing. 
With the sum of Rs. 5,000 now made yearly available to the 
Archaeological Commissioner for freeing ruined areas of scrub 
and rank weeds, all the larger spaces dotted with ruins were kept 
clear at Anuradhapura. 
In addition, was started the systematical clearing of the jungle 
which has for centuries enveloped the numerous caves and ruined 
sites atMihintale, known to exist, but barely accessible, on and 
around the clustered hills. 
It is hoped to foUow up this sweep of the undergrowth by 
resuming excavation of the Mihintale ruins, commenced as long 
ago as 1893, but since deferred owing to more pressing claims at 
Anuradhapura and elsewhere. 
2. — Excavations. * 
Vessagiriya. — The ruins of the ancient Monastery at Vessagiriya 
surroimd three rock hummocks, which lie in line north and south 
close to the main road from Anuradhapura to Kurunegala. The 
most northerly rock (A), and the ruins situated to the east of the 
second rock (B), were dealt with between 1906-1908. 
During the past year (1909), after some heavy cutting, the 
sites on rock B (two small dagabas and a vihare), its caves., and 
all ruins adjoining it to the west, have been unearthed. 
A quincunx gToup, probably a vihare and four piriven off its 
angles, with several appurtenant buildings, stand between the 
middle rock (B) and the southernmost rock (C). 
To roimd off excavations at Vessagiriya the exploiting of these 
and of the ground immediately round the foot of rock C alone 
remains. 
II. — Polonnaruwa. 
The Archaeological Survey made marked advance in 1909, both 
in opening up the ancient City and its environs to view by axe and 
katPy, and in laying bare its far reaching ruins. 
With the exception of a few special sites (mainly those apper- 
taining to the two large Dagabas, Rankot Vehera and *' Kiri 
Vehera ") the decade since 1900 (when the Archaeological Survoy 
E 36-10 
