Mapagala fortress

Mapagala fortress
Part of Matale District
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Mapagala fortress
Coordinates 7°57′04″N 80°45′28″E / 7.951248°N 80.757718°E / 7.951248; 80.757718
Type Defence fort
Site information
Condition Remnant
Site history
Built by Anuradhapura Kingdom

Mapagala fortress was an ancient fortified complex of the Anuradhapura Kingdom long before Kasyapa I built his city, Sigiriya. It is located to the South of Sigiriya and closer to Sigiriya tank.[1]

It was built by using unshaped boulders to about 20 ft high. Each stone is broad and thick and some of them are about 10 ft high and about 4 ft long. It is believed that it was built before the time of usage of metal tools.[2] Arthur Maurice Hocart note says that cyclopean style stone walls were used for the fortress, and square hammered stones were used for the ramparts of the citadel. However, his note suggest metal (iron) tool were used for construction. Excavations work in this areas found out a few stone forges, which proved Hocart's claim on the usage of metal tool.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Ancient city of Sigiriya (“The Lion Rock”)". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Remarks on Metal Intcriirtions". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Exploring the Sigiri-bim". Daily News. Retrieved 24 November 2014.

Further reading

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