Dambulla Ibbankatuwa megalithic burial cemetery: iron-age redware urns and copper jewelry?

The Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Cemetery (situated 3km from Dambulla town) is a major prehistoric archaeological site dating from the Iron Age (approx. 700–400 BC). Spanning several hectares, the cemetery comprises dozens of clustered stone cist graves enclosed by megalithic granite slabs. Archaeological excavations recovered numerous burial urns (large redware globular pots containing cremated human skeletal remains, iron weapons, polished stone beads, terracotta vessels, and hammered copper bangles). The site proves that organized, sophisticated agrarian communities inhabited the dry-zone cultural triangle centuries before Anuradhapura kingdom unification.