Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern
Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE)·Neolithic·🇱🇰 Central, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
About
About Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern
Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern in Central, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka is a Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE) ancient village attributed to Neolithic. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal site extent 150 × 90 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 7.9570N 80.7590E controls access to Central resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient village for Central, Sigiriya, illustrating Neolithic construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 4000 BCE–500 CE
- Period
- Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial and residential complex
- Rediscovered
- 1973 survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 4000 BCE–500 CE
Initial construction of Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern main structure
c. 1913
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1973–2018
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
7.9570° N · 80.7590° E · 171 m · 3 mapped features
- Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern — Main StructurestructurePrincipal ancient village — Site extent 150 × 90 m with diagnostic masonry/panel7.9578° N · 80.7599° E
- Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern — Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature7.9560° N · 80.7583° E
- Sigiriya Boulder Garden East Cistern — Peripheral FeatureoutlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial7.9585° N · 80.7602° E
Gallery