Early settlements in the South

by Rajitha Weerakoon

Ancient early history of the South, remains vague but according to archaeological evidence, early migrants had favoured the South as much as the NWP. Eventually, with no threat of foreign invasions in the South, several minor principalities sprang up, ruled by royal clans. This led to political rivalry. Political marriages, annihilation of entire royal families, tactical manoeuvres and diplomacy became part of the Southern history leading to the build up of the mighty Magama kingdom. The following articles lead up to the clash between the Magama and Rajarata titans.

Only the significant arrivals of migrants to Sri Lanka were documented in the ancient chronicles. Whereas, historical evidence indicate that there were successive waves of migration from all parts of India from the 10th century BC. Migrants seeking greener pastures were brought by Arab mariners who at the time monopolized the Indian Ocean. And with the opening of the silk route, the centrally located island, transformed into a maritime hub.

On the Indo-Gangetic valley by this time, there had emerged new kingdoms based on Brahmin-teachings. Historians claim that Aryan clans which opposed the dictatorial reigns of these new kings, formed into political groups and set up colonies. Some migrated. Vijaya himself a rebel, arrived as a pathfinder in the 6th century BC which eventually led Anuradhapura to become the island's seat of power. The court of Anuradhapura thus took centre stage in the main chronicles.

Whereas, developments of the South were bypassed. However, complex irrigational systems based on small tanks, initial stages of paddy cultivation, animal-rearing, the use of iron as well as black and redware found in the South during limited excavations show early stirrings of civilization. This eventually led to the evolution of settlements and later to the development of minor kingdoms in the South. Although there is no historical documentation of this, events of the South have been mentioned in the main chronicles whenever these related to Rajarata politics.

Historians today therefore, are linking evidence surfaced from archaeology, rock inscriptions and other ancient texts in an effort to form the early history of the South. The Southern settlements come into focus in the chronicles for the first time with the arrival of Princess Bhaddakachchana's brothers in the 5th century BC who headed South to set up their principalities. Rohana it is believed was named after one of them.

Archaeological finds during limited excavations within 200-250 metres of the Magul Maha Vihara in Pothuvil however, open up a history that run further into the past. Ancient implements used for firing of iron and workshops of ancient ironsmiths' found and carbon-dated have been identified as the best examples of the earliest iron-age and as the ideal samples of the earliest Southern settlements.

According to Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne, Professor of Archaeology of the University of Peradeniya, the making of black and redware and the use of metal as early as the 10th century BC heralded the kick-off of the beginnings of history. Early colonisation centred on trade with the outside world was based on such raw material and had spread fastest in the NW and the SE. Ports especially in the NW, and the East therefore had played a key role in the formation of the island's early civilization.

Vijaya arrived in the NW coast. His consort - the Pandyan princess arrived at Mahatittha (present Mantota) which was at the time growing as Sri Lanka's principal entreport. Panduvasdev - Vjiaya's nephew however, who set off from Singhapura, landed at the Makandara delta on the eastern coast. Princess Bhaddhakachchana and later her brothers too landed on the eastern coast - in the port of Gonagama, presently Trincomalee. Gonagama, known at different times as Gonagamaka, Gonagamtota, Gonampatuna and Gokannatitta may have been a much-frequented port of the North Indian migrants.

Names of more eastern ports surface in history. In ancient Budhdhist literature it is mentioned that Budhdha's earliest converts - Thapassu and Bhalluka arrived from India, enshrined Budhdha's Hair Relic they obtained from the Buddha at Tiriyaya, north of Trincomalee and set sail. And with spice and silk traders plying the seas, bustling port cities, had developed in the eastern and southern coasts and were frequented by mariners and traders of India and the Far East by the 5th century BC.

Mahavamsa states that Panduvasdev and his 32 ministers as well as Princess Bhaddhakacchana and the 32 young women (kanya) who arrived a few years later, came disguised in religious garb perhaps to avert probable danger. On the contrary, Panduvasdev had been fed and taken to the then Capital - Upatissagama by the inhabitants. Princess Bhaddhakacchana and her retinue were also looked after well and directed to Panduvasdev.

Therefore, while we find that there had existed a civilised society and that inhabitants had been good hosts, we could surmise that by the 5th century BC, Gonagamaka had developed as a central entreport. And foreign traders coming from North India and those plying the silk/spice route were stopping over at this port.

Could we therefore, as Mahavamsa indicated, accept that Princess Baddhakacchana's arrival in Sri Lanka was an accident? That her father, King Pandushakya, not wanting to clash with the princes of the neighbouring kingdoms in North India, floated her in a boat down the river Gangese not knowing its destination? And that the boat miraculously arrived in the port of Gonagamaka?

If Sri Lanka was part of the international trade-network, was not King Pandushakya aware of the iron technology, the availability of water and the economic prosperity of the island? Pandushakya, who was the son of Amithodhana - the brother of King Suddhodhana, got his six sons to follow the sister to Sri Lanka keeping back only one in India to succeed the throne. All except one, headed South and set up kingdoms. Was it not because, the prospects seemed brighter in the South? According to Dhatuvamsa (the chronicle written based on the South), early Indian migrants favoured the South as the threat of invasions from South India was remote.

But, how did migrants find it easy to set up kingdoms wherever they desired? The indigenous inhabitants probably had their own leaders but the concept of "kingship" as existed in India was unknown to them.

The new rulers, for the first time therefore, were able to demarcate their areas and establish political order. Having come in small groups, migrants evidently had lived in harmony with the inhabitants in order to prevent conflicts.The arrival of Prince Dheegagamini - Queen Baddhakacchana's nephew from Dhigawewa at the Courts of Upatissagaama along with two leaders of the yaksha clan - Gopaka Tissa and Kaalawela shows how fast relations had developed between migrants and inhabitants by the next generation.

And the appointment of Dheegagamani as the Uparaja for the South by King Panduvasdev demostrates the authority the Rajarata ruler had exercised over these southern principalities besides the fact that the indigenous inhabitants had by now, become part of the political picture. We could therefore assume that at the time of Sri Lanka's second king - Panduvasdev (504-474BC according to Mahavamsa), there were five principalities in the South, ruled by kshatriya princes. Only one brother of Baddhakacchana, Anuradha set up his kingdom in the NCP.

The political role these minor kingdoms initially played however, may have been marginal to catch the attention when ancient chronicles related the early segment of history.

But we find statecraft, political-marriages and elimination of entire rival royal families contributing in the later years to bring together the scattered principalities in the South to form one mighty kingdom - Magama, a chapter vital in history that was entirely missed out in the main chronicles.

Next: Southern history re-examined - Part 2 The Expansion of Magama kingdom