PRE-HISTORIC BURIAL GROUND AT RANCHAMADAMA

Ranchamadama area has been shined out with the emergence of the collective cemetery which was racked out through excavations done in the lock of Land of Ranchamadama College. This land which belongs to Kolonna constituency is located in a 12 km distance from Ambilipitiya town. Ranchamadama is a mount collar that ablates to the valley from east border of the steep of Buluthota Mountain.

With the discovery in 2007, advertence of the entire world is focused on Ranchamadama area. The story saying that civilization has evolved from Aryans is also challenged with this excavation which is pioneered by Prof. Raj Somadeva of the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology of Kelaniya University of Sri Lanka. During these excavations, the fact is uncovered that the ritual of cremation was inherited three thousand years back. Nine sepulchres with ash of dead have been discovered from the land of Ranchamadama College and through carbon 14 experiment done in India, Ranchamadama graveyard has been acquired a long history of 3368 years, which trace back to 1359 B.C. This is considered as the oldest cemetery in the island for now. Skeletons and charcoal which was used to cremate bodies have exposed in these charnelhouses. Thus, it has been proved with clear evidence that one of the most advanced civilizations in the world that have inherited the tradition of cremation and used graveyards existed in Sri Lanka 3,000 years ago.

Ranchamadama ancient cemetery significantly unfolds the nature friendly life-style of our ancestors. It is also uncovered that there was a code of rituals done on behalf of dead.

Moreover, stone-tools, clay pebbles and clay vessels have been discovered from this graveyard. This evidences the facts that an advanced civilization which has had the tradition of cremating the dead that belong to working class including farmers and laborers andritual practices in relation to cremation existed in Udawalawa, Galpaya, and Ranchamadama areas in Ratnapura District in the ancient history during 1359 B.C.

Prof. Raj Somadeva was on the view that there are numerous pre-historic sepulchers concealed by two classroom complexes at Ranchamadama College. To continue these experiments two building complexes were to be removed and be replaced with new ones off this site. Ministry of Cultural Affairs has agreed to fund to construct the above replacements. Now there is a museum complex which would blazed the entire historical epoch of Sabaragamuwa.

A chateau was discovered during the excavations re-done in Ranchamadama uphill in 2009 with the intention of exploring the interred civilizations in limits of time. It is a confirmed world view that foremost civilizations not only in Sri Lanka but also in other countries in the world were born associating river-valleys. But this civilization in Ranchamadama existed in a mountainous terrain without a single river-valley. Another proved factor is that the main occupation of inhabitants who lived around 3,000 years ago in these upland civilizations was agro-industry and pastoral farming. Through experiments it is disclosed that the civilization existed in this area was advance enough even to cook catch crop and yams using clay vessels and enjoy the nosh.

The coalition between the two resorts is well conveyed as clay vessels, stone tools and pebbles discovered in lower Ranchamadama cemetery are equivalent to clay vessels, stone-tools and pebbles found from the area where chateaus were located. It is discovered that 09 chateaus dispersed in vicinity through the excavations done by Prof. Somadeva and his group are same as the former discoveries.

Accordingly, Prof. Somadeva who directed the excavations has said that “Uda Ranchamadama” coadunate with world history as the most antediluvian village of elites in Asia. Enquiring the plan of this chateau found from upper Ranchamadama area, which would count 3,250 years old, has eventually become a part of the excavation process. This was done under the supervision of Senior Lecturer Dhananjaya Gamlath at the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology. The foundation of posed chateau is 8.4 long and 8.4 m wide. The evidences found yet confirm that this manor house was built on a slab made of neatly piled charnockite chunks, smoothed using stone-tools.

This mansion has been erected on a strong stone foundation. Cavities that are 10-15 cm long and wide can be seen in between the stone base. Also holes done to set door-frames to enter rooms can also be found in stone base. Black soil, ember and potsherds discovered from the back side of the chateau prove that it was the kitchen. Two animal parts of a sambur and a deer were also found in the kitchen. Few clay pebbles and an antitype were broken through the excavations. Except that many antiquities like stone-tools, face ointment tools, and a yellowish and reddish laterite sculpture used to practice the art of applying face ointments, were discovered in this mansion.

Considering these facts it is clearly confirmed that inhabitants of these ancient human settlements which traces even 3,250 years back from today have inherited an excellent culture that was replete with human antidotes. Ranchamadama thus evidences that the origin of our history that surpasses beyond its uncovered limits.