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Low Density Urbanism in Medieval Sri Lanka: Exploring the hinterland of Polonnaruva

Manuel, M.J.; Gunawardana, P.; Namalgamuwa, H.; Coningham, R.A.E.; Davis, C.E.; Krishnan, K.; Senanayake, J.; Rammungoda, U.R.

Low Density Urbanism in Medieval Sri Lanka: Exploring the hinterland of Polonnaruva Thumbnail


Authors

P. Gunawardana

H. Namalgamuwa

K. Krishnan

J. Senanayake

U.R. Rammungoda



Abstract

A hinterland survey at Polonnaruva has revealed that a planned pluralistic landscape developed during the latter part of the Early Medieval period (A.D. 600-1200). This represents a significant shift in settlement pattern from the organically derived model of Buddhist Temporalities found at the antecedent capital, Anuradhapura. In comparison, settlements around Polonnaruva were larger, longer-lived and evenly distributed. This coincided with a major island-wide shift towards centralization thought to be associated with experimentation with a new model of royal control. Yet, both systems can be described as instances of low density urbanism, suggesting that there was greater variation within this settlement genre than previously anticipated.

Citation

Manuel, M., Gunawardana, P., Namalgamuwa, H., Coningham, R., Davis, C., Krishnan, K., …Rammungoda, U. (2021). Low Density Urbanism in Medieval Sri Lanka: Exploring the hinterland of Polonnaruva. Asian Perspectives: The Journal of Archaeology for Asia and the Pacific, 60(2), 248-271. https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2021.0002

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 21, 2020
Online Publication Date Nov 30, 2021
Publication Date 2021
Deposit Date Dec 10, 2020
Publicly Available Date Jan 10, 2021
Journal Asian Perspectives
Print ISSN 0066-8435
Electronic ISSN 1535-8283
Publisher University of Hawaii Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 60
Issue 2
Pages 248-271
DOI https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2021.0002

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Copyright Statement
This article first appeared in the 60:2, 2021 issue of Asian Perspectives published by the University of Hawai‘i Press




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