Interactions Between Sri Lanka and South India
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0 Interactions between Sri Lanka and South India in the Early and Middle Historic through the perspective of personal adornment Volume 1 of 2 Submitted by Kaushalya Gangadari Gunasena to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology In June 2018 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ………………………………………………………… 1 ABSTRACT The present research investigates the interaction between Sri Lanka and its closest neighbouring region, South India, during the Early and Middle Historic periods. This connection has often been studied based on the textual evidence available on either side with little regard for the material evidence. Therefore, previous studies have fallen short of providing an objective understanding of the interactions. Furthermore, the focus of previous studies has been large-scale, state-mandated interaction. In contrast, this study has adopted a novel approach through the perspective of personal adornment and has been able to trace far closer contact between the two regions than official interaction suggests. To understand interpersonal interactions between the two regions, objects of personal adornment from seven different sites in Sri Lanka and South India were analysed. The patterns that emerge from assemblages of objects of adornment, including beads and other non-bead adornments were observed. The rationale behind this analysis was that body beautification expresses the individual and social identities of people across time and space. Consequently, it was anticipated that, by observing artefacts that are expressions of the identities and preferences of the general populace, this would shed light on interpersonal contact between the two regions. The patterns visible from the analysis of assemblages illustrate strong similarities between the two regions, during the Early and Middle Historic Periods. This is likely to have been the result of exchanging goods, ideas and technological knowledge. This study has also revealed that amidst shared cultural traits, each region developed preferences distinct from each other. The ethnographic study carried out provides further evidence of interactions between the two regions, which is missing in the texts and the archaeological record. These interactions probably reflect those which existed in the past. The integrated evidence used in this study clearly indicates longstanding, continuous personal-level interactions, between Sri Lanka and South India, which were hitherto unknown. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Volume One Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Table of contents………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 List of tables………………………………………………………………………………...........................................12 List of figures………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Abbreviations………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….21 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………….28 1.1 Previous studies .................................................................................................................. 33 1.1.1 Sri Lanka-South India interactions.............................................................................. 33 1.1.2 Previous research on personal adornment ................................................................ 37 1.2 The present study ............................................................................................................... 40 1.2.1 The significance of the present study ........................................................................ 41 1.3 Aims .................................................................................................................................... 43 1.4 Research questions and objectives .................................................................................... 43 1.4.1 Research questions .................................................................................................... 43 1.4.2 Objectives: .................................................................................................................. 44 1.5 Strategy and methodology ................................................................................................. 45 1.6 Organization of the thesis................................................................................................... 46 1.7 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 48 CHAPTER 2: GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND .................................. 50 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 50 2.2 Geographical setting ........................................................................................................... 51 2.2.1 Sri Lanka ..................................................................................................................... 51 Topography ..................................................................................................................... 52 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Climate ............................................................................................................................ 53 Geology ........................................................................................................................... 56 2.2.2 South India ................................................................................................................. 59 Topography ..................................................................................................................... 60 Climate ............................................................................................................................ 62 Geology ........................................................................................................................... 64 2.3 Sources for understanding Sri Lanka-South India connections .......................................... 65 2.3.1 Historical sources ....................................................................................................... 65 Sri Lankan sources ........................................................................................................... 66 Indian sources ................................................................................................................. 69 Foreign sources ............................................................................................................... 71 2.3.2 The Archaeological record.......................................................................................... 77 Excavated material remains ............................................................................................ 77 Art and architectural remains ......................................................................................... 82 Epigraphy and numismatics ............................................................................................ 85 2.4 Cultural periodization and historical background .............................................................. 90 2.4.1 Sri Lanka ..................................................................................................................... 90 Cultural periodization ...................................................................................................... 90 Historical narrative .......................................................................................................... 95 2.4.2 South India ................................................................................................................. 97 Cultural periodization ...................................................................................................... 97 Historical narrative ........................................................................................................ 100 2.5 Dominant themes in Sri Lanka–South India relations ...................................................... 103 2.5.1 Migration and Royal marriages ................................................................................ 103 2.5.2 Invasions ................................................................................................................... 105 2.5.3 Military alliances ...................................................................................................... 108 2.5.4 Religious connections ............................................................................................... 109 2.5.5 Trade ........................................................................................................................ 114 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2.6 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 116 CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ........................ 119 3.1 Material culture theoretical approach ............................................................................. 119 3.2 Methodology