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Poorna Yahampath Research Scholar - University of Sri Jayawardanapura , Sri Lanka.

P alaeo -climate change recordings of Sri Lanka in last two millennia with reference to key historical records. Poorna Yahampath Research Scholar - University of Sri Jayawardanapura , Sri Lanka. Res: 112, Piliyandala Road, Maharagama , Sri Lanka.

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Poorna Yahampath Research Scholar - University of Sri Jayawardanapura , Sri Lanka.

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  1. Palaeo-climate change recordings of Sri Lanka in last two millennia with reference to key historical records PoornaYahampath Research Scholar - University of Sri Jayawardanapura, Sri Lanka. Res: 112, Piliyandala Road, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. +94-71-825-1765; poorna.yahampath@gmail.com

  2. Outline • Present geography/ climate/ seasons of Sri Lanka • Scoping of the study • Historical recording sources • Direct recordings • Indirect reflections/ recordings • Discussion

  3. Preface: • “Palaeo-climate change recordings of Sri Lanka in last two millennia with reference to key historical records” is a part of on-going research of “Reconstruction of past environment through palaeo-bio-geo-stratigraphy in the context of present geography, Ratnapura – Sri Lanka”. Documentary evidence of historical recordings, generally limited to regions/countries with long literary traditions and Sri Lanka is entitled by having more than 2500 years of written history, also which was varied by archaeological attributes and epigraphs. Prior to written historical recordings in 900 – 600 BCE, Sri Lanka has long Pre-historical and Proto-historical evolutionary history that reflected via Archaeology, Paleontology, Palaeo-ecology…

  4. Palaeo-historical summary:

  5. Sri Lanka, its locality, climate zones Dry Zone Intermediate Zone Wet Zone

  6. Geography at a glance…: • Geographically lies surrounded by the Indian Ocean between 5º 52´N - 9º 54´N and 7º 30´E - 81º 55´E; to the southwest of Bay of Bengal and southeast of Arabian Sea. Sri Lanka is a small fragment of an ancient super continent Pangea. After broke up the Pangea into different plates and platelets, Indian plate including Sri Lanka was drifted northwards and finally located in present position. Both India and Sri Lanka stand on the same continental shelf. • The land area is 65,525 km2 of the country and internal waters with 1,570 km2area. A highland massif, situated in the south-centre, surrounded more or less by an intermediate zone of upland ridges and valleys at a lower elevation. On the basis of height and landforms Sri Lanka could be divided roughly into six topographical regions; The Central Highlands, The Southwest country, The East and Southeast country, The uplifted belt of lowlands, uplands and highland, The Northern lowlands and The coastal fringe. • Climate is entirely tropical. Humidity: 70 – 90 % in the southwest and mountainous areas. Mean temperature ranges from 16 °C in the Central Highlands to 32 °C on the northeast coast.Rainfall Influenced by the monsoon winds in four seasons; • South-West Monsoon, • North-East Monsoon and • Two Inter-Monsoons.

  7. Geography at a glance…: • Climatic zones formed accordingly monsoon climates are Wet Zone (mountains and the south western part of the country, mean annual rainfall > 2500 mm), Intermediate Zone(between Wet Zone and Dry Zone, rainfall 1,750 to 2,500), Dry Zone (southeast, east, and northern parts, rainfall 1200 - 1900 mm) and Arid Zone (northwest and southeast coasts, rainfall 600 - 1200 mm). • Vegetation of Wet Zone representing Lowlands Tropical Evergreen Forests at southwest lowlands, Subtropical Evergreen Forests at temperate climates grow in the higher altitudes, Mountain vegetation at the highest altitudes. Dry Zone vegetation representing flora in dry lowlands and typical ground cover is scrub forest. Present forest reserves covered only one-fifth of the land. The south western interior contains the only large remnants of the original forests of the wet zone. • Biological diversity is remarkable with high proportion of endemic species among its flora and fauna. 23% of the flowering plants and 16% of the mammals are endemic. Species recorded as Amphibian 102 + (E: 88+) species, Reptilian 184 (E: 105) species, Aves 482 (E: 33) species and Land Mammalia 91(:16) species. • Geology is Archaeic rocks of Precambrian age (kondhalite and charnokite) cover most of the island. Miocene limestone underlies the Jaffna Peninsula and the northwestern coastal regions, Jurassic deposits occur in two small pockets in Tabbova and Andigama.

  8. Sources of historical records in Sri Lanka, including hints on environmental/climate change • In Sri Lanka exact rainfall figures and records of droughts and floods are available only from 1869 onwards. • The chronicles, mainly the Mahavamsaand the Deepavansa, which contain a continuous dynastic and religious history. • Deepavamsa – Written before 5th Century CE. historical information provided since 6th Century BCE. The Oldest chronicle. Author not found. • Mahdavamsa – Written in 6th Century CE. historical information provided since 6th Century BCE. Second oldest and most descriptive chronicle having 90 Chapters…etc Authors are Mahanama monk and others. • Sammohavinodani – Written in 5thCentury CEAuthor is BuddhgoshaMonk. • Wansathappakasivi – Written in 7th or 8th Century CE. as a supportive Chronicle for Mahdavamsa, historical information provided since 6th Century BCE. Author is Mahanamamonk. • Pujavaliya – Written in 1236 – 1271 CE. Information referred from Mahdavamsa/Deepavamsa and important to clarify some information. Author is Buddhaputhra monk. • Rajavaliya, Thupavamsa, Rasavahini(14th Century)…

  9. Method: Information flow of the Chronicles • Analysis Books of Chronicles Editions of Printed ChroniclesOriginals

  10. Examples:

  11. South Asian Monsoon System North-East Monsoon • Two branches based on their spatial spread over the sub-continent: • Arabian Sea Branch • Bay of Bengal Branch • Two segments based on the direction of rain bearing winds: • South-West Monsoon • (SW Monsoon) • North-East Monsoon • (NE Monsoon) • Two rain periods based on time of the year called: • Summer monsoon  • (May to September) • Winter monsoon • (October to November) Indian subcontinent Sri Lanka South-West Monsoon

  12. Sri Lanka present monsoon system Southwest -monsoon Season (May - September) First Inter-monsoon Season (March - April) Northeast -monsoon Season (December - February) Second Inter-monsoon Season (October-November)

  13. Historical kingdoms of Sri Lanka Dry Zone Kingdoms (400 BCE to 1200 CE) • Anuradhapura • Polonanruwa • Sigiriya • Ruhuna Intermediate Zone Kingdoms (1200 to 1300 CE) • Dambadeniya • Yapahuwa • Kurunegala Wet Zone Kingdoms (1300 – 1815 CE) • Gampola • Raigama • Kotte • Sithavaka • Kandy Sigiriya Ruhuna

  14. Historical setting STUDY STUDY

  15. Direct evidences

  16. BeminitiyaSeya; Drought/Famine • Effected the Anuradhapura and Ruhunu kingdoms and entire country during this period of King Walagambha/ King WattagaminiAbhayain 103 BCE and 89/77 BCE. • Large number of Buddhist monks migrated to India…24,000 monks dead. Cascade disease/ hazard occurred named Rakthakshi. • Also known as the Great Famine of the country ever had and historians making this as a dark period of Sri Lanka’s history. • Advanced irrigation systems failed due to long drought period and cascade impacts of foreign invasion, breakdown of administrative system, corruptions, negligence of repairs and maintenance of irrigation systemsoccurred. • The famine is mentioned in number of times in the stories contained in "Sihalavatthu Pakarana", one of the oldest literatures, and many chronicles.

  17. Direct evidences

  18. Indirect evidences Key parameters were identified to identify and verify palaeo-climate changes occurred in the country; since pre-historical period. Studied so far, • Settlements and distributions • Irrigation tanks, canals, ponds and establishments • Religious ceremonies / treatments for intending rainfall Being studied • Types, nature, materials of buildings and complexes; architecture • Reflections of paintings, stone artifacts and engravings • Establishments of Key ports and internal trade pathways and roads • Building of drainage and surface runoff facilities • Origin and distribution of iron production technology

  19. Shifting of Kingdoms and Main Settlements • Hypothesis is monsoon system changes effected establishment and shifting of Kingdoms. • Pre-historical (before 5000 years) settlements concentrated in Wet Zone supported by favorable SWM and Climate. Dry Zone was not much supported by NEM and Climate for Human Settlements. • Proto-historical (since 5000 – 3000 BP) settlements concentrated in Wet Zone supported by favorable SWM and Climate. But Dry Zone was supporting by NEM and Climate for initiate or expand Human Settlements. • Early Historical (since 3000 /2500 BP or 1200 BCE) settlements/Kingdoms concentrated and extensively expanded in Dry Zone supported by comparatively favorable NEM and Climate. But Wet Zone was receiving strong SWM and unfavorable Climate that limited Human Settlements. • Middle Historical (since 1200 CE) settlements/ Kingdoms shifting to Intermediate and Wet Zones leaving Dry Zone which was not further supported by favorable NEW and Climate. Wet Zone was making favorable due to moderate SWM and Climate for new Kingdoms.

  20. Shifting of Settlements/ Kingdoms Prehistoric Settlements Proto-historic Settlements Early Historic Kingdoms Before 5000 years 5000 – 3000 years after 2500

  21. Between 500 BCE to 1,200 CE Golden era of Kingdom Anuradhapura Shifting of Kingdoms in the history 1 2 4 5 10 3 9 8 6 7

  22. Shifting of Kingdoms - glance Dry Zone Intermediate Zone Wet Zone Hills

  23. Past changes of SWM and NEM based on Kingdoms/ Main Settlements

  24. Tanks system for irrigation & resilience. Hypothesis is monsoon system had been directly influenced building of man-made tank systems. • Building of man-made tanks for irrigation purpose identified from proto-historical period. (since 1000 BCE) in Dry Zone. • First remarkable tank built by King Pandukabhaya in 437-367 BCE during his city development programme. • After that the system of tanks and canal building had been processed also gradually created with very advanced engineering techniques; from Small village tanks to City tanks and to large reservoirs tanks • Up to 13th Century CE the tanks systems were operated in Dry Zone Anuradhapura, Sigiyira, Polonnaruwaand Ruhunu Kingdoms. Then broken down effected entire civilization and declined agriculture. Tanks identified in Survey Plan in 1850 – 1900 CE

  25. Abhaya Tank Nuwara Tank Tissa Tank Three main tanks in Anuradhapura City

  26. Basic analysis of establishments of tanks and canals systems Excellent seasonal NE Monsoon System and Sufficient SW Monsoon System occurrence

  27. Reflections from religious ceremoniesHypothesis is there is a believe and practice giving ceremonial treats to religious properties during drought period seeking rainfall

  28. Thank you…!

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