Sixteen-member team from Sri Lanka visits Pune to take archaeology lessons

A team of sixteen members from Sri Lanka visits Pune to take archaeology lessons. The team constitutes 14 students and two faculty members. The delegation during their stay will visit a range of archaeological sites at Junnar, besides undertaking hands-on training in laboratory techniques used to interpret ancient data.

For many students, this is their first foreign tour. Malsha Chathurini, a third-year undergraduate archaeology student from the University of Sri Jayewardhanapura, Sri Lanka, is excited on her first foreign trip and learn about scientific techniques used in archaeology.

Hosted by Deccan College in the city, the training will be of two weeks. The two institutes, that have entered a five-year MoU to collaborate in the field of archaeology, are currently working at Rajagala in Sri Lanka’s Ampara district. After excavations carried out by an Indo-Lanka team from these universities, several vital remains of the pre-historic era and key remains related to the origin of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, were discovered.

“It was a great learning experience from the field. I am now looking forward to master the skills required to interpret the data scientifically,’’ said Chathurini to The Indian Express. Being at Deccan College feels special said Dr Gamini Ranasinghe, director, Rajagala Excavation site. “We have worked closely with Indian archaeologists. I have not seen such laboratory facilities elsewher,” said Ranasinghe.

“We have found so many evidence from the pre-historic era from Mahalena, the main cave in the Rajagala cave complex. We will continue this work with Deccan College in the years ahead,’’ said Prof Alexander Kapukotuwa, head of History and Archaeology at University of Sri Jayewardhanapura. He further added that the collaboration will continue in the years to come.

Deccan College V-C, Prof Vasant Shinde, said: “This collaboration between the two universities is a good sign towards improving our understanding towards the heritage of the South Asian region.’’