WMTB Wijepala

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Archaeology and Heritage Management, Faculty Member

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WMTB Wijepala received his Bachelor of Arts (Special in Archaeology) degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka in 2007. He entered the University of Ruhuna as an Assistant Lecturer in the same year and served there for three years (2007-2010) affiliated to the Department of History. After three years of service at the Central Cultural Fund (2010-2013), he joined the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka as Probationary Lecturer to the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management and currently serving as a Senior Lecturer since 2018. During this time, he served as an External Lecturer at the University of Ruhuna and the Buddhasavara Bhikku University in Sri Lanka. He obtained his MSc in Archaeology degree from the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lana in 2016. He was joined to the Department of Earth Sciences, Inter-Disciplinary Faculty of Science and Engineering, Shimane University, Japan, in 2019 for the Ph.D. study program.

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Rose Solangaarachchi

University of Kelaniya

Thilo Rehren

The Cyprus Institute

Marcos Martinon-Torres

University of Cambridge

Rahil Alipour

University College London

Myrto Georgakopoulou

The Cyprus Institute

Katarzyna Derkowska (Kądziołka)

University of Wroclaw

Ann Feuerbach

State University of New York- Nassau Community College

Selmi Wallisová

Fareed AlShishani

University College London

david bourgarit

Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France

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Papers by WMTB Wijepala

Ancient metalworking at Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: tracing the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing soil and slags

The Yodhawewa archaeometallurgical site was the latest discovery in Sri Lanka in 2018. This study... more The Yodhawewa archaeometallurgical site was the latest discovery in Sri Lanka in 2018. This study aimed to trace the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing the soil and slags of the site dating back to the c. 1st to 8th centuries AD. The analysis was mainly based on the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method. The soil chemistry resulted in some clues to special metal processing zones in the excavation-1 area. The cultural layers of that area (profiles 1 and 2) showed relatively high copper composition (max. 470ppm), and crucible fragments containing copper particles were also detected in the same layers. The vertical distribution of soil elements and their correlations with TiO2 suggested that long-term metal activity may have affected changes in environmental soil chemistry. Relatively high phosphorus was indicated in the soil-related furnace wall, suggesting the artificial addition of organic matter to the clay body during the furnace wall construction to withstand the ...

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Ancient crucible-steel production of Sri Lanka: Special reference to Yodhawewa archaeological findings

The Past, 2022

The main objective of this study was to examine the archaeological evidence related to the Steel ... more The main objective of this study was to examine the archaeological evidence related to the Steel production of the Yodhawewa archaeological research and to discuss their significance in the South Asian context. An archaeological survey and two excavation pits were carried out in the first quarter of 2018 near the Yodhawewa outer canal and were the primary data file, and this investigation was conducted mainly based on the slags, crucible fragments, and crucible-shaped furnace discovered. The site's stratification confirms that there were two main cultural layers throughout the entire area, and the lower layer confirms (by Carbon14 dating) that metallurgical activities, including crucible-steel production, date back to the c. 8-10 centuries AD. Lightweight (glass typed) slags and crucible fragments were indicators of crucible-steel production, while the other types of slag provide instances of other metalwork in the area. In addition to explaining the use context of the steel production by the crucibletyped furnace, it also interprets the furnace design's technical background. Here was the first identification of a crucible-typed steel furnace operating in Sri Lanka using the Bellow method and the first discovery of a steel furnace in the Northwestern dry zone of Sri Lanka.

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Reading the archaeometallurgical findings of Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: contextualizing with South Asian metal history

Asian Archaeology, 2022

This study aimed to provide a chronological interpretation of the Yodhawewa settlement and interp... more This study aimed to provide a chronological interpretation of the Yodhawewa settlement and interpret metalworking activities based on artifacts representing metallurgical technology in Sri Lanka and South Asia. The research data was based on a field survey, two vertical excavations, and six profile observations conducted in 2018. The radiocarbon (carbon 14) chronological results of the Yodhawewa research represented the first millennium (1st, 4th, and 8th centuries) AD. Archaeological material on iron ore extraction, crucible steel, and copper-related productions was revealed during the study. This Yodhawewa research was the first to discover an ancient crucible-shaped (lower half-spherical typed) steel furnace in the northwestern dry zone of Sri Lanka. Besides, this study led to the first archaeological discovery that the "Bellow method" activated an ancient steel furnace in Sri Lanka. In addition to the metalwork, this site reflects significant archaeological materials on the global cultural relations associated with the Yodhawewa study area.

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Preliminary Results of the Yodhawewa Archaeological Research in Sri Lanka - 2018: Exploration, Excavations, Findings, and Radiocarbon Datings

TRIVALENT ත්‍රිසංයුජ: Journal of Archaeology, Tourism & Anthropology, 2021

This archaeological research aimed to investigate the authentic metalworking activities of the Yo... more This archaeological research aimed to investigate the authentic metalworking activities of the Yodhawewa area and examine contemporary socio-economic movements based on discovered material culture. The entire research work was carried out in 2018 based on a surface survey and two excavations in an area of about 201600m2 on the outskirts of Yodhawewa reservoir. The C14 chronology confirms the 1st-8th centuries activities, and in this research obtained a considerable artefacts collection related to metal extraction, copper metalwork, and crucible steel production. This research also discovered that half of a lower spherical (crucible-typed) metal furnace was used to produce crucible steel for the first time in Sri Lanka. Artefacts such as coins, BRW, RW, and some porcelain prove that the site maintained cultural relations with India and China in the c. 1st century and 8th century AD. Other artefacts of this site include ceramics, beads, faunal remains, minerals, and rocks that have been used for human needs for a considerable period. This article discusses at length the archaeological evidence that the Yodhawewa region is a metalworking site that has been active since the early historical period of Sri Lanka and a place that reflects national and international cultural relations.

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Drafts by WMTB Wijepala

Ancient metalworking at Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: tracing the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing soil and slags

The Yodhawewa archaeometallurgical site was the latest discovery in Sri Lanka in 2018. This study... more The Yodhawewa archaeometallurgical site was the latest discovery in Sri Lanka in 2018. This study aimed to trace the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing the soil and slags of the site dating back to the c. 1st to 8th centuries AD. The analysis was mainly based on the X-ray uorescence (XRF) method. The soil chemistry resulted in some clues to special metal processing zones in the excavation-1 area. The cultural layers of that area (pro les 1 and 2) showed relatively high copper composition (max. 470ppm), and crucible fragments containing copper particles were also detected in the same layers. The vertical distribution of soil elements and their correlations with TiO 2 suggested that long-term metal activity may have affected changes in environmental soil chemistry. Relatively high phosphorus was indicated in the soil-related furnace wall, suggesting the arti cial addition of organic matter to the clay body during the furnace wall construction to withstand the high temperatures. High iron slag (HIS) varies from 12.96 to 49.63 wt% of Fe 2 O 3 and shows high MnO, P 2 O 5 , and V. Lightweight amorphous/glassy slags (LIS) associated with secondary re ning have low iron content and a high CaO and Sr composition.

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Ancient metalworking at Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: tracing the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing soil and slags

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Ancient crucible-steel production of Sri Lanka: Special reference to Yodhawewa archaeological findings

The Past, 2022

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Reading the archaeometallurgical findings of Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: contextualizing with South Asian metal history

Asian Archaeology, 2022

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Preliminary Results of the Yodhawewa Archaeological Research in Sri Lanka - 2018: Exploration, Excavations, Findings, and Radiocarbon Datings

TRIVALENT ත්‍රිසංයුජ: Journal of Archaeology, Tourism & Anthropology, 2021

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Ancient metalworking at Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: tracing the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing soil and slags

The Yodhawewa archaeometallurgical site was the latest discovery in Sri Lanka in 2018. This study... more The Yodhawewa archaeometallurgical site was the latest discovery in Sri Lanka in 2018. This study aimed to trace the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing the soil and slags of the site dating back to the c. 1st to 8th centuries AD. The analysis was mainly based on the X-ray uorescence (XRF) method. The soil chemistry resulted in some clues to special metal processing zones in the excavation-1 area. The cultural layers of that area (pro les 1 and 2) showed relatively high copper composition (max. 470ppm), and crucible fragments containing copper particles were also detected in the same layers. The vertical distribution of soil elements and their correlations with TiO 2 suggested that long-term metal activity may have affected changes in environmental soil chemistry. Relatively high phosphorus was indicated in the soil-related furnace wall, suggesting the arti cial addition of organic matter to the clay body during the furnace wall construction to withstand the high temperatures. High iron slag (HIS) varies from 12.96 to 49.63 wt% of Fe 2 O 3 and shows high MnO, P 2 O 5 , and V. Lightweight amorphous/glassy slags (LIS) associated with secondary re ning have low iron content and a high CaO and Sr composition.

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WMTB Wijepala

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