Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Early Historic Assemblage Offshore of Godawaya, Sri Lanka: Evidence for Early Regional Seafaring in South Asia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Maritime Archaeology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Investigations in 2010 by an international team of maritime archaeologists yielded a concentration of artefacts identified here by the authors as the remains of a shipwreck off the southern coastal village of Godawaya, Sri Lanka. The major findings from this site include many quern stones, various types of ceramics, and glass ingots. The comparative study of the artefacts from the Godawaya site and terrestrial sites of Sri Lanka and India suggest that the ship might have originated from the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. Based on analysis of the artefacts and radiocarbon dating of wood fragments from the site, a broad date of 2nd BCE to 2nd centuries CE is assigned to the assemblage, placing it within the early historical period. Thus, this is the earliest known and as-yet investigated shipwreck in South Asia. The survey findings are discussed and the assemblage is contextualised within the present lack of evidence for early vessels and seafaring in the region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Ceramics were retrieved in a preliminary visit to the site in 2008 by the first, third and last authors of this paper who are the members of the Maritime Archaeology Unit of Sri Lanka.

  2. Earlier these were referred to as ‘glaze ingots’ (Muthukumaran 2009:21–26).

  3. See below for discussion of a second radiocarbon sample taken at the site after the 2010 campaign.

  4. A wood sample from this site was dated by Dr. Bopearachchi who organised a short field trip just after the presently-discussed work involving R. Muthucumarana, W. M. Chandraratne, A. M. A. Dayananda; no additional information could be obtained regarding the location of where the sample was taken at the site.

References

  • Banerjee NR (1986) Nagda 1955–57. Memoir of the archaeological survey of India no. 85. New Delhi

  • Begley V, Francis Jr. P, Karashima N, Raman KV, Sidebotham S, Will E (1996) The ancient port of Arikamedu. Volume one. New excavations and researches 1989–1992. Memoirés Archéologiques 22. Ècole Française d’Extreme-Orient 22, Pondicherry

  • Begley V, Francis Jr. P, Karashima N, Raman KV, Sidebotham S, Will E (2004) The ancient port of Arikamedu. Volume two. New excavations and researches 1989–1992. Memoirés Archéologiques 22. Ècole Française d’Extreme-Orient 22, Paris

  • Bhushan R, Chakraborty S, Krishnaswami S (1994) Physical research laboratory (chemistry) radiocarbon date list I. Radiocarbon 36:251–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Bopearachchi O (1996) Seafaring in the Indian Ocean. Archaeological evidence from Sri Lanka. In: Ray HP, Shalles JF (eds) Tradition and archaeology: early contacts in the Indian Ocean. Manohar, Delhi, pp 199–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Bopearachchi O, Carlson D, Disanayake S, Mehendale S (2012) Godavaya Shipwreck the oldest shipwreck ever so far attested in the Indian Ocean. (Abstract) Conference on South Asian archaeology held at Paris on 2–6 July, 2012

  • Carlson D, Trethewey K (2013) Exploring the oldest shipwreck in the Indian Ocean. INA Q 40(1):9–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Carswell J (1990) The excavation of Mantai. Anc Ceylon 7:17–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Carswell J, Prickett ME (1984) Mantai 1980: a preliminary investigation. Anc Ceylon 5:3–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Coningham RAE (2006) Anuradhapura: the British-Sri Lankan excavations at Anuradhapura Salgaha Watta 2, vol 2: the artefacts. Archaeopress, Oxford

  • Coningham RAE, Allchin FR (1995) Anuradhapura citadel archaeological project: preliminary report of the third season of Sri Lankan British Excavations at Salgaha Watta, June–September 1991. South Asian Studies, vol 8, pp 155–167

  • Coningham RAE, Batt CM (1999) ‘Dating the sequence’. In: Coningham RAE (ed) Anuradhapura: the British-Sri Lankan excavations at p. 370 Anuradhapura Salgaha Watta 2, vol 1: the site. Archaeopress, Oxford, pp 125–133

  • De Silva N, Dissanyake RB (2008) A catalogue of ancient pottery from Sri Lanka. Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (University of Kelaniya), Colombo

    Google Scholar 

  • Deraniyagala SU (1992) The prehistory of Sri Lanka: an ecological perspective. Department of Archaeology Ceylon, Colombo

    Google Scholar 

  • Dikshit MG (1968) Excavations at Kaundinyapura. The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology, Maharashtra State, Bombay

  • Falk H (2001) Three epigraphs from Godawaya, Sri Lanka. In: Weisshaar HJ, Roth H, Wijeyapala W (eds) Ancient Ruhuna: Sri Lankan–German archaeological project in the southern province, vol 1. Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz, pp 327–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaur AS, Sundaresh Vora KH (2005) Archaeology of Bet Dwarka Island: an excavation report. Aryan Books International, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaur AS, Sundaresh Tripati S (2006) Evidence for Indo-Roman trade from Bet Dwarka waters, West Coast of India. Int J Nautical Archaeol 35(1):117–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaur AS, Vora KH (2011) Maritime archaeological studies in India. In: Catsambis A, Ford B, Hamilton DL (eds) The oxford handbook of maritime archaeology. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 513–534

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaur AS, Muthucumaran R, Chandraratne WM, Orillandeda BC, Manders M, Karunarathna S, Weerasinghe P, Dayananda AMA, Zainab T, Sudaryadi A, Ghani KABA, Wahjudin J, Samaraweera N (2011) Preliminary assessment of an early historic (2000-year-old) shipwreck at Godawaya, Sri Lanka. Bull Aust Inst Marit Archaeol 35:9–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiger W (1912) The Mahavamsa or the great chronicle of ceylon, vol XXXV, pp 123–128 (reprinted in London 1980, New Delhi 1983)

  • Ghosh A (1989) An encyclopaedia of Indian archaeology, vol 1. Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, pp 184–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Govind V (1970) Some aspects of Glass manufacturing in Ancient India. Ind J Hist Sci 5(2):281–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurumurthy S (1981) Ceramics traditions in South India. University of Madras, Chennai

    Google Scholar 

  • Hourani GF (1995) Arab seafaring in the Indian Ocean in ancient and early medieval times. Expanded edition with a new introduction, notes, and bibliography by John Carswell. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • IAR-Indian Archaeology—a review (1988–1989) Archaeological survey of India, New Delhi, p 56

  • IAR-Indian Archaeology—a review (1989–1990) Archaeological survey of India, New Delhi, p 58

  • Jones DM (ed) (2011) Archaeological evidence for glass working: guidelines for best practice. English Heritage Publication, Swindon

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanungo AK, Misra VN, Datta K, Ravi Prasad GV, Yadava MG (2010) The radiocarbon chronology of Kopia: an early glass manufacturing centre in India. Archaeometry 52(5):899–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasinathan N (1992) Alagankulam: A preliminary report. State Department of Archaeology, Madras

    Google Scholar 

  • Lal BB (1954–1955) Excavations at Hastinapura and other explorations in the Upper Ganga and Sutlej Basins. Anc India 10–11: 5–151

  • Manders MR, Chandraratne WM, Dayananda AMA, Muthucumarana R, Weerasena KBC, Weerasingha KDP (2004) The physical protection of a 17th century VOC hipwreck in Sri Lanka. Curr Sci 86(9):1251–1255

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthucumaran R (2007) SS Conch: a wreck with a reputation. Marit Lanka 2:35–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthukumaran R (2009) Godawaya: an ancient port city (2nd century CE) and the recent discovery of the unknown wooden wreck. (Part I), Australian Institute of Maritime Archaeology. Newsletter 28(3):21–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Paranavithana S (1983) Inscriptions of ceylon, vol. 11, part 1. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon, Colombo

  • Parthesius R, Millar K, Devendra S, Green J (2003) Sri Lanka Maritime archaeological unit report on the Avondster Project 2001–2002. The Netherlands

  • Ray HP (2003) The archaeology of seafaring in South Asia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimer PJ, Baillie MGL, Bard E, Bayliss A, Beck JW, Blackwell PG, Bronk Ramsey C, Buck CE, Burr GS, Edwards RL, Friedrich M, Grootes PM, Guilderson TP, Hajdas I, Heaton TJ, Hogg AG, Hughen KA, Kaiser KF, Kromer B, McCormac FG, Manning SW, Reimer RW, Richards DA, Southon JR, Talamo S, Turney CSM, van der Plicht J, Weyhenmeyer CE (2009) INTCAL09 AND MARINE09 Radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 YEARS CAL BP. Radiocarbon 51:1111–1150

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth H, Kessler O, Recker U, Wijeyapala W (2001) The Godawaya Harbour site—report on the 1994–1997 excavations. In: Weisshaar HJ, Roth H, Wijeyapala W (eds) Ancient Ruhuna: Sri Lankan–German archaeological project in the southern province, vol 1. Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz, pp 291–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Sankalia HD, Deo SB (1955) The excavations at Nasik and Jorwe 1950–51. Postgraduate & Research Institute of Deccan College, Pune

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenk H (2001) The development of pottery at Tissamaharama. In: Weisshaar HJ, Roth H, Wijeyapala W (eds) Ancient Ruhuna: Sri Lankan–German archaeological project in the southern province, vol 1. Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz, pp 59–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Shortland AJ, Eremin K (2006) The analysis of 2nd millennium glass from Egypt and Mesopotamia, part I: new WDS analysis. Archaeometry 48(4):581–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somadeva R (2006) Urban origins in Southern Sri Lanka. Published by African and comparative Archaeology, Department of Archaeology and ancient History Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

  • Somasiri D (1991) Sri Lankan Ports in ancient and medieval times. In: Rao SR (ed) Recent advances in marine archaeology. National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, pp 84–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Soundararajan KV, Raman KV (1994) Kaveripattinam excavations 1963–1973 (a port city on the Tamilnadu coast). Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India 90, New Delhi

  • Swan B (1983) An introduction to the coastal geomorphology of Sri Lanka. The National Museums of Sri Lanka

  • Tampoe M (1990) Tracing the Silk Road of the Sea: ceramics and other evidence from the partner ports of the Western Indian Ocean (8th to 10th CE). In: Bhandaranayake S, Devaraja L, Silva R, Wimalaratne KDG (eds) Sri Lanka and the Silk Road of the Sea. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO and Central Cultural Fund, Colombo, pp 85–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Throckmorton P (1964) The great basses wreck. Expedition 6(3):21–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomber R (2008) Indo-roman trade: from pots to pepper. Gerald Duckworth, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Wadia DN (1975) Geology of India. Tata MCG Raw-Hill publishing Company Ltd, Allahabad

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler REM (1948) Brahmagiri and Chandravalli 1947: megalithic and other cultures in Mysore State. Anc India 4:180–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler REM (1959) Early India and Pakistan: to Ashoka. Frederick Praeger, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Prof. Nimal De Silva, Director General of Central Cultural Fund, Sri Lanka, for supporting this programme. We thank the funding agencies of UNESCO-Bangkok and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (through their Mutual Heritage Policy Program). We thank two anonymous reviewers and Dr. Athena Trakadas, co-editor of JMA, for their constructive suggestions which helped improve the manuscript. The authors are also grateful to the participants of the expedition to Godawaya, Sri Lanka.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maritime Archaeology Unit, Central Cultural Fund, Galle Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka

    R. Muthucumarana, W. M. Chandraratne & A. M. A. Dayananda

  2. CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India

    A. S. Gaur, B. Ramlingeswara Rao & V. D. Khedekar

  3. Cultural Heritage Agency, Amersfoort, The Netherlands

    M. Manders

  4. Physical Research Laboratory, Navarangpura, Ahmedabad, India

    Ravi Bhushan

Authors
  1. R. Muthucumarana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. S. Gaur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. M. Chandraratne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Manders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. Ramlingeswara Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ravi Bhushan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. V. D. Khedekar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. A. M. A. Dayananda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. S. Gaur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Muthucumarana, R., Gaur, A.S., Chandraratne, W.M. et al. An Early Historic Assemblage Offshore of Godawaya, Sri Lanka: Evidence for Early Regional Seafaring in South Asia. J Mari Arch 9, 41–58 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-014-9125-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-014-9125-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation