Meemure Diary

Closure notes about the entire project by Snr. Prof. Raj Somadeva to HFSL, from the Meemuré Dandenikumbura excavation site…

The excavation team hiked to Galamuduna, a remote isolated village nearby, from the Dandenikumbura-Kumbukbere excavation site in Meemure. The trip was a valuable opportunity to understand the life of the villagers.

Captures by an HFSL member, on a decisive day at the Meemure Dandenikumbura – Kumbukbere excavation site…

At excavation site

Visitors flock to the excavation site…

A few more days at the Meemure excavation site……

The world gets to see the excavation for the first time! For the first time, a few pictures have been released showing the Meemure excavation site. These rare captures were shared with HFSL under special permission from the research group on-site.

The excavation begins… and rain pays a visit! The initial work to set up the excavation site was commenced by the experienced group of archaeologists, headed by Prof. Somadeva. The primary focus of this project would be a suspected pre-historic burial site in the middle of the jungle. Sameera & Menaka; an architects-duo with a special interest in Archaeology, have arrived at the site with their daughter, and are sharing their expertise with the excavation group for a few days. Adding to the existing challenges, the team had to face some rain as well!

The real challenge begins now… Starting from the base camp in the Meemure village, it was a 6 km hike into the tropical mountainous jungle through rough terrain. Now we have set camp and settled in near the excavation site.

The first-ever crowdfunded archaeological excavation in Sri Lanka commenced on the 5th of August 2023 under the guidance and leadership of renowned archaeologist Senior Professor Raj Somadava. The excavation site is nestled amidst the breathtakingly beautiful Dumbara (Knuckles) mountain range, with the closest human habitat being the scenic rural village of Meemurē, accessible by trekking 6 km through a jungle abounds with elephants.